Extreme drought conditions impact 9 North Carolina counties

The state Department of Environmental Quality has placed nine North Carolina counties in the extreme drought category, also known as D3.

The Drought Management Advisory Council says this kind of abnormally low level of rainfall hasn’t occurred since 2017.

Areas impacted include portions of Cherokee, Cleveland, and Graham counties, among others. Residents are advised to follow water shortage guidelines that were established during a 2007 drought.

In addition, the state Forest Service has issued a burn ban for 30 western North Carolina counties due to increased fire risk.

As of Friday morning, the Poplar Drive Fire, covering over 400 acres in Henderson County, remained 98 percent contained. The Collett Ridge Fire, which had grown to cover over 5,500 acres in Cherokee and Clay counties, was 80 percent contained.