Tropical Storm Helene, which reached Western North Carolina Sept. 27, and followed several days ... was designed and built to do exactly what it did: Prevent the failure of the dam at North Fork.

Though wildfires across Western North Carolina ... all wildfires across North Carolina's National Forests were contained or mostly contained. This included the Falls Dam Fire, Ramshorn Fire ...

Drought conditions persist in the Western North Carolina region ... 100 acres and are at 92% containment of the 505-acre Falls Dam Fire in the Uwharrie National Forest, according to Switzer.