The Nation : Thousands Flee Wildfires

Wildfires destroyed 37 buildings, injured nine firefighters and forced thousands to flee their homes in North Carolina’s mountains. Fires also charred thousands of acres in four other tinder-dry Southern states--South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Nine firefighters were overcome by smoke battling the worst fire in North Carolina--a blaze on the outskirts of Valdese that burned at least 16 homes and forced the evacuation of 1,500 residents. A regional federal forestry official in Atlanta said that “all our firefighter resources are committed,” and added that he feared conditions would worsen.