Amid staffing shortages at N.C. Forest Service, inmate firefighters in a state program are battling more WNC wildfires.

From this vantage point, Bill Wilson watches as Chinook helicopters, spotter planes and air tankers launch an aerial fight against the Black Cove and Deep Woods fires in Polk County. Looking out ...

POLK COUNTY – As the Black Cove Complex blazed in Polk County, Marcus Eudy cut, scraped and dug buffer areas in front of the active fire. About 100 yards away, he could see the flames moving ...