COLUMBUS, N.C. — A mandatory evacuation order was issued for residents in the Piney Gate area of Polk County due to the rapidly growing Deepwood Fire, local emergency management officials confirmed.
Polk County Emergency Management released an urgent warning stating that all residents in the Piney Gate area must evacuate immediately. The notice emphasized that visibility in the area would be significantly reduced and that road conditions could deteriorate quickly, potentially trapping residents.
“Visibility in the area will be reduced and roads/evacuation routes can become blocked; if you do not leave now, you could be trapped, injured or killed,” the department said in a public alert.
The fire, named the Deepwood Fire, has prompted swift response from local authorities who are urging residents not to delay their evacuation efforts. The exact size and containment level of the fire have not yet been released.
Emergency shelter has been established at 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus to assist evacuees. Officials are coordinating with local response teams to support those displaced and maintain open evacuation routes.
Emergency services are monitoring the situation closely, warning that any delay in evacuation could put lives at risk. As of now, there are no confirmed injuries or fatalities related to the fire.
