ASHEVILLE - The Asheville Fire Department received a $15,000 grant from Duke Energy that the department is using to purchase 20 wildfire shelters, which can be used in cases where a wildfire overtakes firefighters, the department said.
Tropical Storm Helene, which struck Western North Carolina Sept. 27, 2024, has increased wildfire risk in the region.
The N.C. Forest Service has said that there are 800,000 acres of downed trees and debris caused by Helene, Division Fire Chief Wesley Rogers said.
If a fire does occur, firefighters will have trouble accessing the area, an issue they wouldn't have had prior to the storm, Rogers said.
The shelters will protect firefighters from the heat, withstanding temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees, said Adam Johnson,
manager of Wildfire Management for Duke.
"The fire shelters work basically as a fire blanket that reflects radiant heat and reduces the temperature within a particular area," he said.
Rogers said they're intended to be used in a worst-case scenario.
"If we deploy these, it's a terrible day," he said.
Kara Fohner is the Public Safety Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email her at kfohner@usatodayco.com or call her at 980-241-8671.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Helene made firefighting more dangerous, Asheville department gets new gear
