Wildfire In Eastern Part of North Carolina Threatens Homes
A lighting strike on Sunday is believed to be the cause of a large wildfire burning in eastern North Carolina.
A wildfire burning more than 10,000 acres in Hyde and Washington counties in North Carolina has forced evacuations and created dangerous conditions in surrounding areas.
The fire, which may have been started by lightning on Sunday, jumped containment lines last night and spread to the northeast, according to officials. Smoke from the fire could be smelled around Hampton Roads.
Firefighters are working to make new containment lines and battling hot, dry, windy conditions.
Ed Christopher, district forester for the N.C. Division of Forest Resources, said Wednesday afternoon that what they are calling the Evans Road fire may be the largest wildfire the area has seen in more than 20 years. He feared the fire could double in size by the end of the day, and said firefighters are looking at weeks or even months, not days, to have it extinguished.
Officials have declared a state of emergency in Washington and Hyde counties, and Washington County has started a mandatory evacuation for people living in the Lake Phelps community. About 40 homes are threatened, according to a statement from the North Carolina Forest Service.
This is an area I’m very familiar with having hunted and visited the area a lot. A good friend of mine Mike Noles and his family run a guiding business, Conman’s, on the shores of Lake Phelps. I know they have safely evacuated the area but the fate of their home and business is unknown at this time. Keep them in your prayers as well as the other people living in the area and the fire fighters and emergency folks dealing with this fire. Hot dry conditions for the foreseeable future is not really what is needed as they try to battle this fire.
Updates when I have more news
Story by Dan McLaughlin AKA Moose
[...] The wildfire continues to rage in the eastern part of the state in some of the most remote areas you could ever see. Mike Noles owner of Conman’s Guide Service had to evacuate the area with his family because of the fire burning his direction. I’ve received some good news from him this evening in regards to his family’s situation We’ve been allowed to come back in to our homes for now. Only homeowners are being allowed in. The fire has turned to the east (away from us) and is now burning at about 1 mile per hour toward the Alligator River. It has a tremendous fire wall of over 3 miles wide and is picking up speed. They have burned 2 successful back fires between us and the main blaze and that gives us a 3/4 mile burn break should the fire try to turn. It’s black, scortched, plowed earth from the east end of Phelps Lake south to Hwy 45 in Ponzer with a path over 4 miles wide. Last report has over 12,000 acres burned and no real containment in sight. The fire marshalls are predicting another fire of ‘85 when a total of over 90,000 acres of the pocosin burned. [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Update on Wildfire in Eastern North Carolina — June 5, 2008 @ 12:20 am
[...] Evan’s Road Fire continues to grow a week after it was started by a lighting bolt. Fire personnel from Federal, [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Wildfire Continues To Grow Downeast — June 8, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
[...] on I reported about Mike Noles and his family having to evacuate because of the fire. They have returned home for now and hopefully the fire danger for them has [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Approaching 65 square Miles and Growing — June 11, 2008 @ 12:28 am
[...] Evans Road Fire in Eastern North Carolina is now 75% contained. The fire started on June 1st after a lightning strike in Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Recent rains have help suppress [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Evans Road Wildfire Update — July 9, 2008 @ 8:22 am
[...] Coast this weekend bring much needed rain to the wildfire. The Evans Road Wildfire has been burning since June 1st inside of Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge when it was ignited by a lightning strike. Fire [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Evans Road Wildfire Update — July 21, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
[...] Road Fire in Eastern North Carolina but it also makes the roads treacherous to drive on. The Evans Road wildfire started back on Jun 1 and although the ground fire continues to burn the surface fire does not. The fire remains 75% [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Rain a Blessing and A Curse For Fire Fighters Fighting Evan’s Road Wildfire — July 28, 2008 @ 12:23 am
Wildfires can be a very bad thing. We don’t have the fires here in the northeast like that so I can only imagine.
I hope all get out to safety and I sincerely hope that Mike Noles and his family do not loose their business.
Comment by Rick — July 28, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
[...] fire that started on June 1st after a lightening strike inside the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge consuming 62 square [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Mopping Up On Evan’s Road Wildfire — August 10, 2008 @ 10:48 pm