POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Six days into fighting three huge fires in Polk County, the spokesman for North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) said the challenge remains getting a handle on containment.

"Our crews are continuing to work overnight, holding, reinforcing the containment lines we've already established," said E.J. Dwigans, an NC Forest Service spokesman. "We did get a little precipitation (Monday) morning that's going to help, but it takes a lot more rain to extinguish a wildfire than folks think."

Dwigans said only a tenth of an inch of rain was expected overnight. By noon, winds were picking up at the Polk County command center, estimated at around 25mph.

"We expect the gusty, dry conditions to return this afternoon. Right now we have over 240 resource personnel here on this fire," Dwigans said. "We've gotten more today. We're going to have more tomorrow."

POLK COUNTY WILDFIRES SCORCH 5,000 ACRES WITH LITTLE CONTAINMENT, RESIDENTS VOICE CONCERNS

Firefighters from as far as Michigan and Washington state with expertise in fighting wildfires are coming, said Dwigans. He said the single goal with these wildfires is containment.

Dwigans confirmed the U.S. Forest Service is supplying the Chinook helicopters, which have been in the air for days over Polk County, dropping water on the fires.

"We've requested resources from all over the country, not just North Carolina," he said.

On Sunday, there was standing room only at community public meetings for fire information. Dwigans said, starting this week, boards with maps and the latest fire information will get posted at local watering holes across Polk County. He said locations could include gas stations and restaurants.

FIRE DATA (updated 6:45 p.m.)

• Fish Hook Fire (Lake Adger): 199 acres, 65% containment
• Deep Woods Fire: 2,742 acres, 0% containment
• Black Cove Fire: 2,813 acres, 0% containment

The N.C. Forest Service said fire movement remained active Monday, March 24, with increases in acreage on the Black Cove and Deep Woods fire.

The Black Cove fire is moving into Henderson County along Big Hungry Creek Road, where officials say crews are trying to slow the spread of the fire and protect structures.

The NCFS said Polk County has issued 165 evacuation orders at this time and Henderson County has issued 29 evacuation orders.

Henderson County has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents on Laurel Mountain View Road and Boulder View Road. Polk County Emergency Services is keeping an updated list of evacuations at polknc.gov.

CHALLENGES

There are multiple factors slowing progress on containment of the two largest fires, said Dwigans.

"Number one is the rugged, steep terrain," he said. "We've got cliffs that are really hard to get to where the fires are burning. They're burning in remote areas. You're looking at single-lane gravel roads, old logging roads, and bulldozer lines that we've used to put in containment."

On Friday, emergency officials confirmed six structures had burned in Polk County.

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"These fires are big. It takes a long time to drive the perimeter of these fires, and with the topography we're fighting the fire in, we end up with microclimate conditions," Dwigans said. "In one area, you might have a fire moving very slowly because that area is shaded and retaining more moisture. On the other side of the mountain, it's already dried out, and the fire's running uphill."

"The winds are going to increase fire behavior, just like if you start a campfire and you blow oxygen on that fire, it's going to increase that fire behavior."

INFORMATION MAP

Emily Lamar owns popular Saluda restaurant The Purple Onion. She said forest officials told her Sunday that they'd like to put a fire map and information board in front of her restaurant. She said she was more than happy for them to do it.

She said one goal is to encourage people to continue to come to Saluda, which is miles from the fires and open for business. Lamar said she feels comfortable crews are able to keep the fires on state gamelands miles away.

She said a number of businesses in downtown Saluda closed following Helene and described the wildfires as another "kick in the pants" as businesses try to rebound.

HENDERSON COUNTY CONCERNS

The focus for Henderson County officials Monday is the fact the Black Cove Fire may spread into the county.

Mike Morgan, a spokesman for Henderson County, said the Big Hungry community is mostly in Polk, but it does also stretch into Henderson County. It's the area where he said crews are watching to see if the fire spreads and crosses the county line.

Morgan said the Black Cove community in the Big Hungry area was extremely hard hit by Helene. In another area, Morgan confirmed Henderson County officials have called for voluntary evacuations for about 29 homeowners on Laurel Mountain View Road and Boulder View Road.

This story will be updated.