North Carolina -- April 21, 2026: Today, the National Park Service announced plans to remove hazardous, storm-generated tree debris from just under 3,000 acres across six areas with elevated wildfire risk along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia. Scheduled to begin in late summer, this Helene recovery project aims to reduce wildfire danger to communities, homes and other resources while preserving the visual character of the Parkway.
Informational Meetings Scheduled for May 5–7
Areas identified as having elevated risk and where removal work will take place, include:
Galax and Hillsville: 292 acres between mileposts 205–215
Laurel Springs: 129 acres between mileposts 249–267
Boone: 769 acres between mileposts 280–300
Linville Falls: 527 acres between mileposts 310–319
Little Switzerland: 325 acres between mileposts 324–341
Asheville: 829 acres between mileposts 374–396
To learn more about this project, the park will hold three open-house-style informational meetings for neighbors, adjacent communities, stakeholders and anyone interested in the project:
May 5 (5–7 p.m.) — WCC at Crossroads, 1117 East Stuart Drive, Galax, VA
May 6 (5–7 p.m.) — Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, milepost 384, 195 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC
May 7 (5–7 p.m.) — Caldwell Community College, Watauga Campus, at the Watauga Student Commons, 460 Community College Drive, Boone, NC
As work takes place in these areas, park visitors and neighbors can expect intermittent traffic delays due to one-lane closures. The park aims to complete initial fuel removal work by spring 2027. The park will then target specific areas for revegetation to support forest restoration and natural ecosystem recovery.
information from Blue Ridge Parkway National Parks Service