The primary objective for the N.C. Forest Service Incident Management Team is public and firefighter safety.
PLEASE BE AWARE: Wildland fire engines and large equipment continue to be on roads in the fire area and traveling to and from assignments. Motorists are urged to exercise caution and stay alert, particularly in times where rain reduces visibility.
Acreage: 1,331 acres | Containment: 74%
On Friday morning, rain showers brought approximately four-tenths of an inch of rain to the fire area. Firefighters worked in areas with persistent hot spots, primarily the northeast corner and the southern tip of the fire.
“We’ve made progress by leaps and bounds in the past couple of days with our dozer and water handling operations. We’ve been able to send some of our resources back to their home units, but we are not turning our backs on this fire just yet. We’ve still got some cleanup work to do,” says Incident Commander Brad Allen.
A drone equipped with infrared technology will fly over the fire again today to determine where heat remains in the ground. Containment has increased to 74%. The fire remains within the 1,331-acre footprint.
The Sunset Road Fire is burning in Boiling Spring Lakes in Brunswick County. The fire began Friday, May 2. No homes have been destroyed. Percent containment represents sections of fire line that pose no escape risk without further action from firefighters.
Weather: An approaching cold front will stall near the area this weekend, maintaining unsettled weather near the coast through Sunday. An area of low pressure develops over the Southeast early next week, leading to an extended period of rainy weather. Confidence remains high for a significant rain event. Pockets of smoldering heat persist in some areas around the fire. Minimal and lingering smoke may be present in these areas within the immediate vicinity of the fire footprint.
Temporary Flight Restriction: A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 3,000 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_8047. Flying drones within a TFR designated area is unlawful. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts. The public is reminded to keep drones away from wildfires.