Update on Evans Road Fire 6pm, June 27 By ICP
Incident: Evans Road Wildland Fire
Released: 6/27/2008
·¨ Water pumping operations continue to reinforce fire lines. Lake levels are being monitored and alternate sources of water are being developed.
·¨ An excavator and 1,200-gallon engine are working on the interior of the burn to protect existing roads that are in danger of being undermined by the ground fire.
·¨ Since the Evans Road Fire started on June 1, 110 personnel from 24 other states have assisted with fire suppression in eastern North Carolina. Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina sent a total of 59 firefighters and overhead personnel. Help has come from as far away as California, Oregon and Washington.
·¨ The fire has burned 41,060 acres of woodland.
·¨ The fire is 75 percent contained. The northeast portion of the fire burned into an area that was too wet for equipment to construct fire lines. This wet area stopped the fire, but it could eventually creep through, if dry conditions persist.
·¨ Ground fire continues to be the primary focus of the suppression effort. Smoke remains a concern from Belhaven to Plymouth and east to the Outer Banks. Smoke advisories may be found at: www.weather.gov/mhx . A map of forecast smoke impact areas can be found at www.ncair.org/news/pr/2008/smoke warning.shtml .
·¨ NCDFR and USFWS are developing a rehabilitation plan to restore areas impacted by the fire suppression activity.
·¨ A burning ban remains in effect for Hyde, Washington, Tyrrell and Beaufort counties and other counties in southeastern North Carolina.
·¨ Dry conditions are worsening across much of North Carolina. The N.C. Forest Service responded to 28 wildfires that burned 136 acres on Thursday.
For additional information on the fire visit the Pocosin Lakes Wildlife Refuge web site at: http://www.fws.gov/pocosinlakes
Resources on the Fire
313 personnel, 13 tractor/plow units, 4 water tenders; 33 engines & 1 helicopter.
Cooperators
US Fish & Wildlife Service; Hyde, Tyrrell & Washington County Emergency Management; NC Division of Emergency Management; National Weather Service; DOT, Hyde County; Hyde County Sheriff's Office; NC Division of Parks and Recreation; NC Division of Water Quality; NCWRC, Division of Wildlife Management; NC Division of Air Quality, NC Highway Patrol; NC Office of State Fire Marshal; NIMO-Phoenix Team; local volunteer fire departments.
Plans for Tomorrow
Pumping will continue to reinforce containment lines and cool hot spots on the interior of the burn.
