In western North Carolina, autumn brings an abundance of harvest and a flourish of color across the mountains. It also ushers in the fall wildfire season, which runs from late September through early December. This year, as we approach the anniversary of Hurricane Helene, some mountain residents are particularly nervous about the potential for intense wildfires.
I lived in the Garren Creek community in Fairview, NC for a few years, a place where the storm damage was particularly bad. The forest behind the property used to have trails, but it’s impossible to get through now because of all the landslides and fallen trees. Many of my former neighbors were nervous during the spring wildfire season because of how close the fires came. Now people are talking about the anniversary of Helene happening at the same time as another fire season. It’s worrisome, to say the least.
The increased risk of wildfire in the fall is due to several contributing factors. Typically, autumn in western North Carolina follows a period of warm, dry weather, followed by cool-season frontal winds. If there has been an extended dry season, this can create conditions for fires to start and spread quickly. Furthermore, as trees drop their leaves in the fall, the forest floor accumulates a significant amount of dry, flammable material that can ignite easily. This is called fuel loading.
The enormous presence of downed trees from Helene could add to the normal fuel load, greatly increase the intensity of the fires, as well as restrict access for firefighters. It’s a recipe for disaster in an area that is still recovering from the biggest one in its history.
In addition to the threat from fire, wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and fine particulate matter—tiny particles that can travel deep into our lungs and cause significant health problems, especially for sensitive groups like children, older adults, and those with respiratory or heart conditions. Even distant wildfires can impact air quality, as smoke plumes can travel hundreds of miles depending on weather patterns.
Knowing where to find reliable information is the best way to protect your health during wildfire season. CleanAIRE NC is committed to keeping community members informed through resources, tools, and tips:
In June 2025, CleanAIRE NC launched a new comprehensive platform that combines scientific data with community context. Through the AirKeeper Dashboard, users can visualize both immediate and long-term air quality challenges specific to the places and people they care about.
To help North Carolina communities prepare for the 2025 fall wildfire season in the mountains and across the state, CleanAIRE NC is adding a new dataset to our AirKeeper Dashboard. This dataset is derived from authoritative data provided by the US Department of the Interior and Office of Wildland Fire. The aim is to keep Dashboard users informed about current wildfire conditions as well as air quality impacts due to wildfire smoke.
Each data point will include information about the size of the fire in acres and show the most recently updated perimeter. Users can pair this with the Smoke Forecast layer from the National Weather Service, found under Environmental Conditions in the Select Layers menu.
Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and fine particulate matter—tiny particles that can travel deep into our lungs and cause significant health problems, especially for sensitive groups like children, older adults, and those with respiratory or heart conditions. Even distant wildfires can impact air quality, as smoke plumes can travel hundreds of miles depending on weather patterns.
For real-time updates on air quality, check out PurpleAir sensor data as well as Regulatory Monitors under Air Quality in the AirKeeper Dashboard’s Select Layer menu.
An AQI Legend is always visible on the AirKeeper Dashboard map. Hover over each color to understand what the different AQI levels mean and what precautions to take at each level. “Good” and “Moderate” are generally acceptable, but higher levels (“Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” “Unhealthy,” “Very Unhealthy,” and “Hazardous”) require increased caution.
This is a national website that provides real-time air quality information from monitors across the country, including North Carolina. You can check the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your specific location.
The DAQ website provides detailed air quality data, forecasts, and information specific to North Carolina.
In addition to visiting the AirKeeper Dashboard, stay tuned to your local news outlets and emergency management agencies for updates on wildfires and any related air quality advisories.
