Wildfires

Wildfires - Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, USA

Dozens of wildfires are burning out of control in the Southeast and southern Appalachians, charring thousands of acres and spreading smoke across several states.

As of Monday, 97 fires were active in Tennessee, and smoke from the blazes could be seen as far away as southern Ohio.

In neighbouring Kentucky, 33 wildfires were burning statewide and had consumed 15,950 acres according to the state’s Department of Forestry. Burn bans were in place in 60 counties across the state, and Gov. Matt Bevin declared a state of emergency on Thursday.

Residents were being evacuated in the North Carolina mountains Tuesday as thousands of acres are burning in at least 18 wildfires that have doubled in acreage since the weekend.