A band of rain passed through WNC and South Carolina, helping slow the spread of area wildfires. Here's what to know about containment efforts April 1

Stay up to date with the location and size of fires with our North Carolina wildfire and smoke map. The map is interactive, is updated hourly and provides detailed information on each fire. A burn ban was still in place for all of North Carolina as of March 31. Great Smoky Mountains National Park also has issued a burn ban.

Firefighters continue preparing firebreaks and protecting structures in anticipation of elevated temperatures, high winds and low humidity.

A ban on all open burning in North Carolina will be lifted as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 2. A statewide ban went into effect on March 21 amid multiple raging wildfires. Several mountain counties directly impacted by the fires have also lifted local outdoor burn bans, including Henderson and Polk counties.

Wildfires continue to rage in Western North Carolina and the South Carolina Upstate. Stay with the Citizen Times Saturday for live updates.

High winds, abnormally dry conditions and debris from Hurricane Helene have only increased difficulty for firefighting crews.

Rain over the weekend helped fire crews in the region, and they hope more rain and thunderstorms will suppress wildfires further.

The fire was first reported on March 20, caused by a downed power line. North Carolina remains under a statewide burn ban. Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency on March 26 in response to the wildfires in western North Carolina.

In 2009, another large wildfire hit Horry County, where it burned more than 19,000 acres. Seven years later, the largest mountain wildfire in South Carolina's history ignited and burned more than 10,600 acres in Table Rock State Park after a campfire grew out of control.

Red and black fire ants are common in NC and can cause anaphylactic shock especially for vulnerable kids, elderly, and pets.