CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Whether or not you live in an area where natural disasters frequently happen, you may end up paying for it. Homeowners insurance rates could go up for people in the coming years. Part of what's fueling the potential for rising insurance rates is fires. State leaders are now saying North Carolina is the number one state at risk for wildfires. "We're growing so quickly here in North Carolina," said Philip Jackson with the North Carolina Forest Service. "With our human-caused fires, those are expected to increase." That's in part due to how many people are moving here, but also a lack of staffing at the State Forest Service. Photos: Lighting sparks fire at North Carolina ski slope condos "We've been without adequate staffing now for several years, but this year it's really showing more now than it has in recent years," said Jackson. "We've got more than 100 vacancies across the state." There's also lots of debris on the ground in western North Carolina following Helene. "The longer it sits there, the drier it gets," said Jackson. "It's going to die and become fuel readily available for a wildfire." The hurricane itself also plays a big factor in possibly raising insurance rates. "Each storm poses its different challenges, but this storm was very unique because it impacted an area that did not expect to get so much flooding," said Jason Tyson with the North Carolina Department of Insurance. As we see natural disasters happen more frequently, more intensely and in areas which aren't typically hit, homeowners could start paying for it. The average statewide rate increase of 7.5% will go into effect June 1 and was negotiated before Helene hit western North Carolina. That means homeowners are safe from a huge jump, at least for now. "If there is a big impact on rates from Helene, the people in the mountains won't necessarily feel them for the next two years, which is a blessing in disguise," said Tyson. Those rates are expected to be renegotiated in 2027. ...read more read less