July 4, 2008 Evans Road News Release
Incident: Evans Road Wildland Fire
Released: 7/4/2008
· Firefighters on the Evans Road Fire anticipate shifting weather patterns over this weekend. While increases in relative humidity levels are expected to assist crews, winds are anticipated to change directions. Firefighters will be alert for these changes to protect their safety as well as the integrity of the fire lines. Chances of thunderstorms will remain over the weekend, but these are not anticipated to bring long term relief to the fire if they develop. The N.C. Forest Service reported over 36 new wildfires across the state for a total of 197 acres on Thursday.
· The fire now covers a total of 41,355 acres. Peat soil continues to burn down to an average depth of three feet.
· Hard-line irrigation systems have been installed by crews on the fire line. More than 60 pumps of various types may be working at any one time to move water around the fire. High-volume lift pumps are used to pump water from lakes into canals and to pump water from one canal to another, moving water over 36 miles. Smaller pumps are used to deliver water from canals to the fire through irrigation systems. These lines supply sprinklers placed near the perimeter to prevent flare-ups near the containment lines but do not completely extinguish the fire burning below ground.
· Forty-seven wildland fire engines are assigned to the fire today. Engines carry from 200 to 1,200 gallons of water and move to strategic locations around the perimeter of the fire to suppress hot spots and flare-ups as they occur.
· Caution is advised while driving as smoke can reduce visibility on highways. 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 .
· A burning ban remains in effect for Hyde, Washington, Tyrrell and Beaufort counties and other counties in southeastern North Carolina.
For additional information on the fire visit the Pocosin Lakes Wildlife Refuge web site at: http://www.fws.gov/pocosinlakes
Resources on the Fire
345 personnel, 13 tractor/plow units, 4 water tenders; 47 engines & 4 helicopters.
Cooperators
Florida Division of Forestry, Kentucky Division of Forestry, Mississippi Forestry Commission, South Carolina Forestry Commission, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Virginia Department of Forestry, 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; USDA-Forest Service; Cisco Systems; local volunteer fire departments.
Plans for Tomorrow
Pumping will continue to reinforce containment lines. Rehabilitation work has begun and will continue according to the plan developed by NCDFR and USFWS.
