ATLANTA (AP) - The Latest on wildfires and drought in the southeastern U.S. (all times local):
12 p.m.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency because of the wildfires in the western part of the state.
McCrory issued the declaration late Thursday morning to help the state's efforts in handling more than 20 wildfires.
McCrory pointed out that while eastern North Carolina grapples with recovery from the flooding from Hurricane Matthew, the western part of the state has been suffering drought conditions for weeks.
The state of emergency is in effect in 25 western counties. Outdoor burning has been banned in those counties. Some evacuations have been ordered in five counties.
A National Guard helicopter and technicians have been deployed to help with any rescues that might be needed.
McCrory says the fires are some of the worst in North Carolina in nearly 20 years.
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11:25 a.m.
Federal authorities say warmer-than-average temperatures and no rainfall are deepening a drought that's sparking forest fires across the Southeastern U.S., forcing people to evacuate dozens of homes.
Thursday's national drought report shows 41.6 million people in parts of 15 southern states now live in drought conditions. The worst is in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, but extreme drought also is spreading into western North and South Carolina.
Most of the large fires Thursday are being fought in Tennessee and Kentucky.
In the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, people living on five roads near one roaring blaze were advised to leave their homes, and residents of 38 more homes in another part of the state were told to evacuate ahead of a separate wildfire.