Scott Detrow

Jeff got all three questions correct. Yeah. It's a record.

Jeff got all three questions correct. Yeah. It's a record.

Jeff got all three questions correct. Yeah. It's a record.

If you mention wildfires, a lot of Americans will think of the western United States, areas like Southern California. But fire is becoming a bigger problem in the southeast as well.

If you mention wildfires, a lot of Americans will think of the western United States, areas like Southern California. But fire is becoming a bigger problem in the southeast as well.

If you mention wildfires, a lot of Americans will think of the western United States, areas like Southern California. But fire is becoming a bigger problem in the southeast as well.

That's Zach O'Donnell. He's the coordinator for the Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Burn Association, based in western North Carolina. And this week, the State Forest Service declared one of the fires burning there as the highest priority fire in the U.S.

That's Zach O'Donnell. He's the coordinator for the Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Burn Association, based in western North Carolina. And this week, the State Forest Service declared one of the fires burning there as the highest priority fire in the U.S.

That's Zach O'Donnell. He's the coordinator for the Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Burn Association, based in western North Carolina. And this week, the State Forest Service declared one of the fires burning there as the highest priority fire in the U.S.

O'Donnell would rather not be helping fight active fires. Usually, he's educating landowners about fire prevention and leading controlled burns to reduce the risk of bigger fires. And right now, risk is high. Six months ago, Hurricane Helene ravaged mountainous forested areas like in Asheville, North Carolina.

O'Donnell would rather not be helping fight active fires. Usually, he's educating landowners about fire prevention and leading controlled burns to reduce the risk of bigger fires. And right now, risk is high. Six months ago, Hurricane Helene ravaged mountainous forested areas like in Asheville, North Carolina.

O'Donnell would rather not be helping fight active fires. Usually, he's educating landowners about fire prevention and leading controlled burns to reduce the risk of bigger fires. And right now, risk is high. Six months ago, Hurricane Helene ravaged mountainous forested areas like in Asheville, North Carolina.

All those downed trees, combined with a dry spring and high winds, it creates dangerous wildfire conditions.

All those downed trees, combined with a dry spring and high winds, it creates dangerous wildfire conditions.

All those downed trees, combined with a dry spring and high winds, it creates dangerous wildfire conditions.

Jeremy Knighton is assistant fire chief in Asheville. He explained there are multiple wildfires burning across thousands of acres in a region which, again, six months ago saw those devastating floods.

Jeremy Knighton is assistant fire chief in Asheville. He explained there are multiple wildfires burning across thousands of acres in a region which, again, six months ago saw those devastating floods.

Jeremy Knighton is assistant fire chief in Asheville. He explained there are multiple wildfires burning across thousands of acres in a region which, again, six months ago saw those devastating floods.

A catastrophic hurricane, a dry spell, and a windy spring helped create the current wildfire risk in the mountains of North and South Carolina. But studies show that climate change could increase the intensity of wildfires in southern Appalachia, and a growing population could increase the danger to humans. And people like Jeremy Knighton stress that the region will need to be ready for that.

A catastrophic hurricane, a dry spell, and a windy spring helped create the current wildfire risk in the mountains of North and South Carolina. But studies show that climate change could increase the intensity of wildfires in southern Appalachia, and a growing population could increase the danger to humans. And people like Jeremy Knighton stress that the region will need to be ready for that.