Wildfires up over 100% as Troxler asks for state funding for Forest Service vacancies, equipment

At April’s Council of State meeting, North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler called on the General Assembly for funding to help rebuild the state’s Forest Service as wildfires continue to burn across the state.

He made similar comments at March’s meeting, once again stating that there are still 100 open positions, along with worn-out helicopters and bulldozers, to battle the 1,823 wildfires burning across the state, particularly in the west where Hurricane Helene brought such devastation last September.

That’s a 104% increase over the average 891 wildfires the state normally sees in March, North Carolina Forest Service Assistant Commissioner Greg Hicks told Council of State members.

Hicks presented the agency heads with a rundown of the state’s fire locations and containment levels:

Polk County:

• Black Cove Complex Fire: 93% contained
• Deep Woods Fire: 60% contained
• Fish Hook Fire: 100% contained

Swain County:

• Alarka 5 Fire: 1,515 acres, 62% contained

Haywood County:

• Rattlesnake Ranch Fire: 1,865 acres, 24% contained

Transylvania County:

• Table Rock Complex Fire: 574 acres burned (part of 15,365 total acres), 32% contained.

Although recent rains have been a welcome sight, Hicks said they still have the month of April to get through before the spring wildfire season ends on May 1. The state is also monitoring the Big Ridge Fire in South Georgia.

Troxler said, unfortunately, 12 homes were lost to the fires, which normally does not happen.

He expects this season to get worse before it gets better, saying there will likely be another dry period in the fall during which the fires could ramp up again. He’s asked the legislature for help filling the Forest Service’s open positions and purchasing new equipment.

Democrat Gov. Josh Stein assured Troxler that he would be in discussions with the General Assembly to seek their input on the funding request.

Troxler is scheduled to hold a press conference about the Crop Loss Disaster Program Tuesday afternoon.

state money for crop losses

On March 19, the General Assembly approved $311 million for agricultural crop losses from 2024, with $200 million earmarked for the western part of the state impacted by Hurricane Helene. The remaining $111 million will be used for statewide losses from other weather-related events, including Tropical Storm Debby.

He noted that the money, while significant, is dwarfed by the $5 billion in total losses in the state’s ag industry for 2024; $4.23 billion from Helene, and $696 million in crop losses from statewide drought conditions, Tropical Storm Debby, and other weather events. Farmers suffered crop losses from Hurricane Helene of over $907 million. 

“It’s the worst disaster year I’ve ever seen in agriculture, so we’re gonna help these farmers get off their knees and stand straight up again and continue to grow this $111 billion industry,” Troxler said.

The department has also applied for a federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) for crops, debris cleanup, field rehabilitation, road and bridge repairs, and the payment of lost equipment.

The NC Department of Agriculture currently has 25 people in Japan on a trade mission, says Troxler, pointing to Japan’s large presence here. According to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Japan is the top country for announced job growth and investment in North Carolina, with more than 160 Japanese firms investing $18 billion in the state.

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