BRUNSWICK COUNTY — A fire in Boiling Springs Lake continues to be managed by the NC Forest Service after growing to 1,500 acres since Saturday night.
According to Operations Section Chief Jonathan Ambrose, firefighters are taking advantage of early-morning showers and continue to work dry areas around the fire.
“The dozer crews are steadily churning up the soil and reinforcing single fire lines to multiple lines in hopes of stopping or slowing the spread of the fire,” he said in a release from Brunswick County.
The county estimates around six-tenths of rain fell over the area and while there is 10% containment, smoldering may still happen in deep pockets of soil which has potential to ignite.
The fire was fully contained Friday after starting at 10 acres that morning and growing to 200 by evening. Despite containment efforts, it spread beyond its bounds on Saturday due to windy, dry conditions adding fuel to hot spots.
Crews from area municipalities and counties — roughly 15 various counties, according to Boiling Springs Lake Fire Rescue — helped in managing the flames for the last 48 hours. N.C. Forest Service Incident Management Team assumed command of the Sunset Road fire by noon on Sunday.
The cause of the Sunset Road Fire remains under investigation. Though no homes have been destroyed from it, mandatory evacuations went into effect at various times since Friday, however all have been lifted by Sunday. The American Red Cross shelter has closed at South Brunswick High School as well.
N.C. Highway 87 also reopened, but smoky conditions may still exist, so travelers should drive using caution. A temporary flight restriction remains in effect, meaning it’s illegal to fly drones in the area.
Air quality in the region is still degraded, as the DEQ portal has it at code orange in Brunswick County — down from code red on Saturday. New Hanover County also remains at code orange.
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