Firefighters make progress on containing Carolinas wildfires but warn danger persists

Firefighters announced progress Wednesday night on containing two of the largest wildfires burning in the North Carolina mountains, but they warned that fire danger remained from dry and windy conditions.

Hundreds of people have been asked to leave their homes in North Carolina and South Carolina as a half-dozen large fires are burning in the Blue Ridge Mountains, spreading smoke into places like Greenville. Millions of fallen trees from September's Hurricane Helene are both providing fuel for the wildfires and hindering firefighters' use of logging roads and paths.

The North Carolina Forest Service said that the Black Cove Fire and Deep Woods Fire were each more than 10% contained on Wednesday night, after days of reporting zero containment for the two blazes. The fires have scorched nearly 10 square miles (26 square kilometers) combined, but the size of the area burned has largely remained the same since the previous day.

About 250 homes have been evacuated in Polk County, where the fires are centered. About two dozen homes and outbuildings have been destroyed in Polk County, spokesperson Kellie Cannon said.

Firefighters have managed to save most of the structures near the fires. Only one injury has been reported — a firefighter in North Carolina got his leg caught under a tree, officials said.

There is rain in the forecast for the weekend, but it isn't the kind of soaking downpour that can knock a fire out on its own, said National Weather Service meteorologist Ashley Rehnberg in Greer, South Carolina.

“Hopefully that will at least calm things down briefly,” Rehnberg said.

The bright spot in the forecast for the next week is there is no especially dangerous day where the winds and the dry weather reach potentially disastrous levels like in Los Angeles in January or Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 2016.

Forestry agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina are already figuring out how to rotate teams of firefighters into and out of the mountains for what could be a long fight.

“Burn bans are in place, and people need to follow them,” Rehnberg said. “Even if we do get rain, the weather is going to continue to be a problem as far as we can forecast.”

South Carolina fire officials called for their first round of evacuations Tuesday night. Two fires are burning — a larger one inside Table Rock State Park in Pickens County that has consumed 3.6 square miles (9.3 square kilometers) and another one on Persimmon Ridge in Greenville County that has burned 1.6 square miles (4 square kilometers).

About 250 homes are in the Pickens County evacuation zone with more in neighboring Greenville County, authorities said.

The fires are about 8 miles (12.5 kilometers) apart, and winds are strong enough that authorities decided to evacuate the area between the two fires.

Wednesday's dry weather led to several new fires in western North Carolina and prompted Gov. Josh Stein to declare a state of emergency in 34 western counties. At least nine fires were active in that part of the state, officials said.

“Our State Emergency Response Team is responding with every tool at its disposal. Please stay safe and stay alert for any evacuation orders if the fires spread to an area near you,” Stein said in a statement.

Late Tuesday, a wildfire started in far western North Carolina not far from Bryson City. Police were evacuating dozens of people as the fire spread to nearly 1 square mile (1.6 square kilometers).

The fires in South Carolina have been caused by humans.

Authorities from local fire chiefs all the way to South Carolina's governor are urging people to heed burn bans in both states and stop setting fires to burn garbage or at campsites.

“We have people going out in the woods and in their backyards and starting fires when the wind is blowing and everything is dry,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said. “We just have to use common sense. People get out in nature and they forget how dangerous it can be."

The Black Cove Fire is seen burning Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

The Black Cove Fire is seen burning Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A home that was lost to a wildfire is seen Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Lake Lure, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A home that was lost to a fire is seen Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Lake Lure, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

The Black Cove Fire burns on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A firefighter works to clear debris from Hurricane Helene to protect a home as the Black Cove Fire burns nearby Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighter John Ward lights a backburn to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters work to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A firefighter works to control a protective backburn fire as the Black Cove Fire burns nearby Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A firefighter works a protective backburn to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters work to clear debris from Hurricane Helene to protect a home as the Black Cove Fire burns nearby Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters work to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

The Black Cove Fire is seen Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A firefighter lights a protective backburn fire to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters look at a map as the Black Cove Fire burns nearby Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters work a backburn to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters work to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters watch a water helicopter as they work to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighter John Ward works to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A helicopter does a water drop on the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A firefighter works to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A helicopter does a water drop on the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

A firefighter lights a protective backburn fire to control the Black Cove Fire Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Hector Medrano, a firefighter from California, stands in the midst of debris from Hurricane Helene as coordinates a helicopter water drop for the wildfires Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Smoke from wildfires billows in the background as firefighters from North Carolina and across the U.S. gather for a morning coordination meeting Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Mill Spring, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters from North Carolina and across the U.S. get breakfast after they gather for a morning coordination meeting Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Mill Spring, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters from North Carolina and across the U.S. gather for a morning coordination meeting Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Mill Spring, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters from North Carolina and across the U.S. gather for a morning coordination meeting Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Mill Spring, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Hector Medrano, a firefighter from California, stands in the midst of debris from Hurricane Helene as coordinates a helicopter water drop for the wildfires Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

The Black Cove Fire is seen Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Firefighters from North Carolina and across the U.S. gather for a morning coordination meeting Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Mill Spring, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

The Black Cove Fire is seen Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

Hector Medrano, a firefighter from California, watches the Black Cove Fire as he coordinates a helicopter water drop Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce)

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge combined with Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger to go deep on the first three pitches from Milwaukee’s Nestor Cortes, then had two more homers and a career-high eight RBIs as the New York Yankees set a team record with nine home runs in taking an 20-6 lead over the Brewers on Saturday.

Judge hit a solo homer, his ninth career grand slam, and and a two-run shot in his 40th multi-homer game and third with three homers.

He came up just short of becoming the 19th player to hit four homers in a game when his sixth-inning fly fell on the right-field warning track for a run-scoring double.

Goldschmidt, Bellinger and Judge homered starting the first on the unusually warm 78-degree afternoon. Major League Baseball said this was the first time a team homered on its first three pitches since tracking of pitch counts began in 1988.

Austin Wells homered later in the inning as New York hit four home runs in the first inning for the first time in its century-plus history. Anthony Volpe added a three-run drive in the second for a 7-3 lead against Cortes, who allowed a career-high five home runs.

Judge's first homer went 468 feet and he added his ninth career slam in the fourth on a 396-foot drive to left-center off Connor Thomas, a 27-year-old left-hander making his major league debut. Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed with a home run, boosting the lead to 13-3.

Judge hit a 425-foot, two-run homer to center in the fourth against Thomas.

Pinch-hitter Oswald Peraza had a two-run homer in the seventh against Chad Patrick, who was making his big league debut. New York had hit eight homers at the Philadelphia Athletics on June 28, 1939, and against the Chicago White Sox on July 31, 2007.

Toronto set the record of 10 homers against Baltimore on Sept. 14, 1987.

Batting leadoff for the first time in his 15-year major league career, Goldschmidt drove a fastball 413 feet into the Brewers bullpen in left field against Cortes, who was making his Milwaukee debut following a December trade from the Yankees.

Bellinger sent a fastball over the Yankees bullpen and into the right-field bleachers and Judge drove a cutter 468 feet into the left-field second deck.

After a mound visit by pitching coach Chris Hook, Chisholm took a called third strike, Volpe grounded out and Wells hit a fastball 372 feet into the left-field seats.

Milwaukee closed to 4-3 in the second against Max Fried, who lasted 4 2/3 innings in his Yankees debut, and Volpe hit a cutter 349 feet into the left-field seats.

Wells led off Thursday's game with a home run off Freddy Peralta, becoming the first catcher to hit a leadoff homer on opener day. The Yankees joined the 2011 Texas Rangers as the only team to lead off with a home run in its first two games. Ian Kinsler went deep starting both those Rangers games.

Cortes, a 30-year-old left-hander who pitched for New York from 2018-24, had never before allowed more than three homers in a game. He is remembered by Yankees fans for allowing a first-pitch grand slam to Freddie Freeman in the 10th inning of last year's World Series opener that lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 win, starting them to the title.

Pitching with his hair dyed blond, Cortes gave up eight runs, six hits and five walks in two innings and left with a 36.00 ERA.

Thomas allowed his first five batters to reach and allowed eight runs, six hits and two walks in two innings.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) hits a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Yankees's Aaron Judge (99) watches his grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) heads home after hitting a grand slam in the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) runs to first for a single in the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Yankees' Austin Wells (28) heads home after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Yankees' Austin Wells (28) watches the ball after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr (65) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger (35) smiles after crossing home plate after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Yankee's Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting a home run during the first inning of baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)