It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Old Beechwold Historic District gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Columbus, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I'm so happy to have such a professional and reliable agency that I can refer”
“Always Best Care Seniors Services provide the personal touch in-home care! From our initial”
“Highly professional and very caring. A great company”
“I love this company. They are always very responsive. They truly care about the ones”
“Wonderful service, very helpful, great communication.”
“All their caregivers are nice, show up, rarely late, and very helpful and kind. They”
“I am a current client of this provider They give me the peace of mind. They are”
“My husband has dementia. They have helped me continue to work and feel comfortable in”
“Very great place to work! The staff is very supportive!”
“This place is absolutely amazing to work for!! The office team is so welcoming and”
“They do what I ask them to do which makes my life easier. They are”
“The most caring compassionate place i have ever been to”
“Outstanding care and compassion for both clients and employees”
“They really appreciate to have their employees there . And that makes me feel happy”
“I went for my interview there a week ago and the staff were so nice”
“I am a current client of this provider It could just be his cooperation or lack”
“I am a current client of this provider They do what I ask them to do”
“I am Kathryn Merrell and for the past several months I have been under the”
“I am a current client of this provider She does whatever is needed without being asked. I”
“I am a current client of this provider Just being here and making meals is great.”
“As a caregiver I am so pleased with the care for the clients. I've never”
“I would recommend them because they provide good services. I've been down on my”
“They're very prompt about coming when they're supposed to and they do what we need”
“I am a current client of this provider They've helped the most just by being here,”
“I have honestly never met a group of people who care as much as the”
“I'm so happy to have such a professional and reliable agency that I can refer my caregivers to and know that they will receive the service they need to assist with the care of their loved ones with dementia,”
“Always Best Care Seniors Services provide the personal touch in-home care! From our initial call inquiring about services, to meeting the owner Jim Smeaton to discuss our unique family needs, to the caring compassionate and understanding caregivers we are thoroughly impressed. Its such a relief knowing our loved ones are receiving the care they deserve.”
“Highly professional and very caring. A great company”
“I love this company. They are always very responsive. They truly care about the ones that they care for.”
“Wonderful service, very helpful, great communication.”
“All their caregivers are nice, show up, rarely late, and very helpful and kind. They are reliable, and the caregivers are sweet and attentive.”
“I am a current client of this provider They give me the peace of mind. They are always able to be reached and are willing to work with you.”
“My husband has dementia. They have helped me continue to work and feel comfortable in knowing my husband is safe with excellent care. The office listens, really hears and is helpful to support and meet needs. Our caregiver, Chip, has become family. He was very personable, attentive to needs, brings extra in music, stories, making sure to pay attention to the patient and give accordingly. He is always kind and gracious. We are blessed to have them.”
“Very great place to work! The staff is very supportive!”
“This place is absolutely amazing to work for!! The office team is so welcoming and helpful anytime I call or come in, and my clients are wonderful! It’s more like helping a friend all day instead of working like clockwork!”
“They do what I ask them to do which makes my life easier. They are always on time and they always finish the job during the day.”
“The most caring compassionate place i have ever been to”
“Outstanding care and compassion for both clients and employees”
“They really appreciate to have their employees there . And that makes me feel happy just being in there in their organization .. my google is under Stephanie young but my last name is now Duarte . Young was my married name , I’m divorced now”
“I went for my interview there a week ago and the staff were so nice and welcoming. I’m excited to join the team and see the great things they have in store.”
“I am a current client of this provider It could just be his cooperation or lack thereof. It is regarding his cooperation regarding the service. He tends to not wake the caregiver for assistance during the night time. I would give specific names of individuals in this organization that I would request over others.”
“I am a current client of this provider They do what I ask them to do which makes my life easier. They are always on time and they always finish the job during the day.”
“I am Kathryn Merrell and for the past several months I have been under the care of ABC Senior Services. I have had the privilege of enjoying the care of Lois C. She is the best advertisement for your agency. When I am asked, which happens frequently, about my experience with ABC, I refer to Lois as being your prime example of the type of care they can expect from you. She goes beyond just basic care and does all she can to help remedy any problem we have. I love that I can trust her and feel safe having her share my home with me. She is very professional yet very "down home", a rare combination. You should be very thankful she is on your "team"! Because of her, I have no problem recommending your company to all who ask.”
“I am a current client of this provider She does whatever is needed without being asked. I have had a couple of very good people, one of which I have now. When I was getting going with them, I had a couple of people I would never like to have again, but that has all been ironed out.”
“I am a current client of this provider Just being here and making meals is great. But they could be more proactive. They need to be better at communicating.”
“As a caregiver I am so pleased with the care for the clients. I've never worked for a company that was so dedicated to clients and caregivers. Everyone is always happy, clients and staff. I am blessed to work here.”
“I would recommend them because they provide good services. I've been down on my health, so it's been a blessing to have them taking care of him for me. I appreciate that the caregivers are friendly.”
“They're very prompt about coming when they're supposed to and they do what we need them to do. They've helped the most just by being here.”
“I am a current client of this provider They've helped the most just by being here, and doing what they're supposed to. They're very prompt about coming when they're supposed to and they do what we need them to do.”
“I have honestly never met a group of people who care as much as the Always Best Care team. I have watched the staff there change lives for the better, not only for clients but each other as well. It is a pleasure to be a part of this team, nothing compares to it!!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Goodale Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, Columbus or visit Thurber House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Columbus, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Columbus, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Columbus, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Columbus, N.C.With one of their South Carolina homes threatened by the Persimmon Ridge wildfire, and another mountainside home not far from a group of fires in Western North Carolina, Rodney and Sheila Nelson had a stressful week.The couple, now staying at their third home in Polk County, N.C., on Thursday, had just been at one of their Greenville County, S.C., homes packing up some personal belongings and filling a trailer with equipment like a cement mixer and tiller.They said they were now trying to fix up their home ...
Columbus, N.C.
With one of their South Carolina homes threatened by the Persimmon Ridge wildfire, and another mountainside home not far from a group of fires in Western North Carolina, Rodney and Sheila Nelson had a stressful week.
The couple, now staying at their third home in Polk County, N.C., on Thursday, had just been at one of their Greenville County, S.C., homes packing up some personal belongings and filling a trailer with equipment like a cement mixer and tiller.
They said they were now trying to fix up their home on Skyuka Mountain to try and reduce the chances of it being burned down. While fire hasn’t encroached on the home yet, a fire burned on the other side of the mountain, Rodney Nelson said.
“It’s unusual,” Sheila Nelson said, sharing a basket of tortilla chips with her husband at Cocula Mexican Grill in nearby Columbus, N.C., on Thursday afternoon.
The couple decided to move some of their belongings out of their home after South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered an evacuation for the street it’s on. He also ordered evacuations for areas of Pickens County, and South Carolina issued an outdoor burning ban this week.
They said they recognized it was unique to have three homes being threatened by wildfires, and it was stressful.
Wildfires have burned thousands of acres in North and South Carolina, prompting evacuation orders in some communities as dry and windy conditions have helped the fires spread. In Polk County, N.C., three fires have burned more than 6,000 acres and have grown large enough to be seen by satellites.
The Nelsons were among just a few customers at Cocula in afternoon.
Co-owner Lina Olarte said the restaurant has seen patrons fluctuate since the wildfires started. On days when the sky and air are clearer, there’s normal lunch and dinner traffic. But when the air quality is poor, fewer people dine in.
“A lot of the population here is older people and families with kids,” Olarte said. “So they want to be safe, I’m sure.”
In parts of Polk County, it was hard to tell that just a few miles north of Columbus, some of nearly 500 firefighters from North Carolina and other states were battling wildfires that spread to nearby Henderson County. A statewide burning ban was issued in North Carolina as well.
In nearby Tryon, Thursday appeared to be just another day as people walked the streets and popped in and out of shops and restaurants. Some people could be seen running or walking their dogs in Mill Spring. And school buses dropped students off in Columbus in the late afternoon.
An American Red Cross volunteer sitting outside of the Polk County Senior Center, which is serving as an evacuation center for the county, said only two residents were staying there. And the shelter has been relatively quiet this week.
Many people opt to stay with family or friends instead of the shelter, said Bo Dossett, a public information officer with the N.C. Forest Service.
Dossett, who was working at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort in Mill Spring on Thursday, said North Carolina hasn’t seen wildfire season as bad as this year since 2016.
“We are going to see more wildfires fueled by Helene, like they’ve having right now,” said Dossett, who normally works as a Forest Service ranger in Madison County, north of Asheville. “We’re getting very used to hearing on the radio of a forest ranger rolling up to a fire and saying, ‘One acre, the fires running up hill, the fire is in heavy downed, damaged timber from storm blow down.’”
The Black Cove Fire, Deep Woods Fire and Fish Hook Fire in Polk County have destroyed 22 structures, forced evacuations on 18 roads, and required an injured firefighter be airlifted to a hospital, authorities have said.
The three fires have burned private and state-owned land. The N.C. Forest Service, which tracks wildfires on its website, said the steep terrain of the Green River Gorge, where two of the fires started, has hampered firefighting efforts.
As of Thursday morning, 17% of the Black Cove Fire had been contained, while firefighters had contained 11% of the Deep Woods Fire and 86% of the Fish Hook Fire.
Dossett said fires burn the hottest on the southern faces of the mountain. Because of Hurricane Helene’s rotation when remnants of the storm hit the region, much of the wildfire’s fuel is near those areas of the mountains.
While damage from Helene left plenty of fuel for wildfires to grow in Polk County, counties further north, such as Mitchell, Avery and Yancey counties, have even more, Dossett said. The reason they haven’t had fires yet is because of their higher elevations.
“They tend to be cooler and a little bit damper,” he said.
But when fires start to burn in any region, he said, they grow larger and more visible, and have a bigger impact in the affected areas, he said. Fires that would have been routine before Helene have now become “long, drawn out, complicated incidents.”
“Residents, please make sure you have emergency alerts on and pay attention to evacuation orders,” N.C. Gov. Josh Stein said on social media Wednesday.
Stein appeared Thursday at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort, which was serving as a command center for the N.C. Forest Service, to talk to workers about their plans for fighting the wildfires. He took some press questions before leaving the facility.
“I came up today because today is the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene and we’re going to do commemorations of the 106 lives that were lost by the storm,” Stein said. “Here I am in Polk County, and these folks are experiencing a double whammy.”
He said there were 500 fires this month that affected nearly 10,000 acres. That is nearly three times of what is typical for this time of year, Stein said.
He said he was encouraged by the strategies the firefighters were taking.
Some other North Carolina counties were under evacuation orders as well, the state’s Emergency Management agency said, including Henderson, Transylvania and Swain counties. Stein issued a state of emergency on Wednesday to help increase resources going toward combating the wildfires.
“There are things that we can do to mitigate the risks. You can’t prevent the risk, but you can take measures to reduce the likelihood that the fire will come to places where there are people and property,” Stein said. “I had money in my budget that I submitted to the General Assembly for funding to help. ... They didn’t fully fund everything I’ve asked.”
He said he was going to go back to the General Assembly with another budget request that includes a package for fighting fires.
“Because what we cannot have happen is the pain, the suffering that the people of Western North Carolina experienced from Hurricane Helene be compounded by a summer of fires,” he said.
As Sheila and Rodney Nelson’s meals arrived at Cocula, the couple was in good spirits. Despite the stress, Sheila Nelson said she thinks the firefighters have things under control.
“I think we’re going to be all right,” Rodney Nelson said.
March 26, 2025 12:54 PM
This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
The Charlotte Observer
Jeff A. Chamer is a breaking news reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He’s lived a few places, but mainly in Michigan where he grew up. Before joining the Observer, Jeff covered K-12 and higher education at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in Massachusetts.
By Ben [email protected] Officials are urging caution in much of southeastern North Carolina as wildfires remain a risk during windy conditions.Wildfires have been burning in the region since last week. More than 200 acres burned in the Evergreen community in Columbus County, and other fires broke out near a sawmill in Riegel...
By Ben Rappaport
Officials are urging caution in much of southeastern North Carolina as wildfires remain a risk during windy conditions.
Wildfires have been burning in the region since last week. More than 200 acres burned in the Evergreen community in Columbus County, and other fires broke out near a sawmill in Riegelwood. Robeson County has seen 15 wildfires that burned more than 220 acres over the weekend. No one was injured, and residents were not asked to leave their homes.
The blazes, most of which are now contained, are part of a string of wildfires plaguing the Carolinas. More than 240 wildfires have broken out in North Carolina and South Carolina since Feb. 26, forcing 5,000 residents to evacuate, media outlets reported. More than 5,200 acres have burned near the state line in South Carolina, including more than 2,000 acres in Horry County, which borders Columbus County, according to the South Carolina State Fire Marshal.
Two wildfires in central Robeson County near Pembroke were still burning as of Monday morning, according to the N.C. Forest Service dashboard. The fires have destroyed about 22 acres; both were 95% contained as of 7:00 a.m. Monday, the last time the dashboard was updated.
Fires can be common in the region this time of year as many people burn leaves and debris. Southeastern North Carolina counties are not under a burn ban, but officials say there is still a high risk of wildfires and urge caution before residents conduct burns.
“We still have some high risks because of the dry weather and high winds,” Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman said. “We need people to continue to be careful where and when they’re burning.”
Drought has also been a significant driver of the fires. The region averages about 6.7 inches of rainfall in January and February, but this year, it’s gotten just 3.7 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
There may be some reprieve, however, as showers are expected to bring between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties on Wednesday and Saturday, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service.
On Wednesday, all of southeastern North Carolina was under a severe weather alert and tornado watch. Wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph and thunderstorms were expected to sweep across the region. Schools closed in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus and New Hanover counties, and Robeson County schools moved to a half-day schedule.
The wet weather may temporarily suppress fire risks, but it won’t end the drought, according to Chris Cawley, a meteorologist in Columbus County.
“This will be a very beneficial rainfall with regard to the wildfire conditions and will help dampen the top soil layer and the vegetation,” Cawley told the Border Belt Independent on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, it’s a quick hit.”
Cawley and local fire marshals urged continued caution about fire risks because of expected continued dry conditions after the storm passes through Wednesday evening.
“The combination of dry fuels, limited rainfall, and very low humidity will lead to an elevated risk of adverse fire behavior today,” the National Weather Service in Wilmington said in a statement on Monday. “Across NC, people are urged to avoid outdoor burning today. If you must burn, use extreme caution since fires can grow quickly and become dangerous in these conditions.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency and ordered a statewide burn ban on Sunday. The largest fire in the state was in Carolina Forest in Horry County, about 25 miles from the state line. The fire has burned more than 2,000 acres and was 30% contained as of Tuesday evening, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Officials said getting the fire 100% contained could take several days. South Carolina is expected to see wind gusts of 20-25 mph on Wednesday, which could provide challenges to first responders trying to contain the fire.
The fire may affect residents in North Carolina, as heavy smoke is causing air quality warnings and visibility issues.
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