Wildfires, Hurricane Helene, and the Urgent Need for Land Clearing in Asheville & WNC

If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you’ve probably heard about the wildfires that recently tore through Bat Cave and Old Fort, NC. In late January 2025, a wildfire ignited after a tree fell on a power line near Bat Cave Road in Old Fort, leading to evacuations and burning approximately 250 acres in the Crooked Creek community.

wsoctv.com.

It’s been heartbreaking to watch, and for those of us who call these mountains home, it’s a stark reminder of just how vulnerable we are to fire—especially with all the debris Hurricane Helene left behind.

Think about it: every dry, fallen tree, every pile of dead brush—it’s all like a pile of matchsticks just waiting for a spark. And in these mountain communities, where the land is rugged and often densely wooded, one small fire can turn into a raging inferno in no time.

We get it. No one wants to start preparing for another disaster while still trying to recover from the last one. It’s exhausting, emotionally and financially. But the reality is that if we don’t start tackling this issue now, we could be looking at even greater devastation down the road. The good news? There’s a way to make sure your post-Hurricane Helene cleanup also doubles as wildfire prevention.

At Mountain Folk Land Clearing, we’re working with homeowners and business owners across North Carolina to clear out the dry, dangerous debris left behind by the storm. That means removing fallen trees, clearing out thick brush, and taking out dead vegetation that could easily fuel the next wildfire. By doing this now, you’re not just cleaning up after Helene

— you’re safeguarding your home, your family, your pets, and your property from another disaster in the making.

Wildfires don’t wait, and neither should we. If you’ve still got hurricane debris on your property, now’s the time to take action. Let’s work together to clean up, prevent future wildfires, and make sure our beautiful mountain communities stay safe for generations to come.

Need help? Mountain Folk Land Clearing is here for you. Give us a call, and let’s get to work!

For a visual perspective on the recent events, here's a news report covering the wildfire near Old Fort: