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: 83%
The Sunset Road Fire in Brunswick County remains 1,331 acres in size and is 83% contained. The wildfire started Friday, May 2. The cause of the wildfire has been determined to be a debris burn that occurred on private property Friday, April 25, seven days earlier. Bobby Max Lowery, 48, of Nebo, NC, was cited and charged with North Carolina General Statute 14-140.1.
Drought conditions have persisted this spring in southeastern North Carolina, keeping vegetation primed for catching fire. The area of Boiling Spring Lakes in which the fire is burning consisted of heavy high and low brush fuels (pocosin) with a pond pine/longleaf pine overstory. Prolific organic soils throughout this area can hold ground fire for an extended period of time, particularly when dry. These factors, combined with a forecast cold front moving through the area contributed to the extreme fire behavior and continued spread May 3.
The N.C. Forest Service would like to extend a special thanks to the City of Boiling Spring Lakes for their cooperation in the wildfire investigation.
On Saturday, May 11, approximately 2.75 inches of rain fell around the fire footprint. With muddy conditions present, fire personnel remaining attached to the incident are staged locally until conditions improved to resume operational work.
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.
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For Sunset Road Fire updates, visit www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service/fire-control-and-prevention/sit-report or follow the N.C. Forest Service on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NCForestService.