By Ryan Hutchins and Jim Washington
A North Carolina wildfire gained new intensity Wednesday, becoming so large that it had created its own weather system with billowing clouds and lightning.
About 10,000 acres were burning Wednesday in North Carolina’s Hyde, Washington and Tyrrell counties, sending smoke as far north as Hampton Roads more than 60 miles away.
The fire, which may have been started by lightning Sunday, burned in a national refuge and threatened to destroy farmland south of Columbia. Firefighters had it contained to about 1,700 acres Tuesday, but dry, windy weather fanned it and pushed it northeastward.
A wall of thick, gray smoke and ash reached east Wednesday across the Alligator River and Pamlico Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. At times, it could be smelled around Hampton Roads and produced a heavy haze that obscured the sun Wednesday evening along the Outer Banks. The fire is about 50 miles west of Hatteras Island in a rural, sparsely populated area.
Fire departments in Suffolk and Portsmouth reported worried calls from residents smelling smoke from the wildfire.
The National Weather Service reported that the fire created a thunderstorm around dinner time. The rain fell east of the fire, though.
“It’s somewhat of a rare occurrence in the East,” said Jim Merrell, a meteorologist. He noted that it was more common in Northern California.
Ed Christopher, district forester for the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, said Wednesday that what is being called the Evans Road wildfire may be the largest the area has seen in more than 20 years. He compared it with a 1985 fire that consumed about 90,000 acres.
Christopher said firefighters are looking at weeks or even months, not days, of dealing with it.
Officials declared states of emergency in two counties and evacuated people living in the Lake Phelps community. About 40 homes are threatened, according to Brian Haines, spokesman for the Division of Forest Resources.
“This is the second time I’ve had to wonder if I’d lose my home,” said Gladys Spruill, who was asked to evacuate her Magnolia Road home Tuesday night.
She’s lived there since 1960. While major fires like this one are rare in that area, she said, smaller fires have been typical in the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
It’s an issue with the soil there, which includes large amounts of peat. It allowed the ground itself to burn Wednesday, felling trees that had nothing left to hold onto, Christopher said.
According to Tony Spencer, spokesman for Hyde County Emergency Management, two forestry firefighters had been injured.
There were more than 100 firefighters tackling the blaze Wednesday. The National Forest Service sent a 2,000-gallon air tanker to help.
Haines said the forest division was concerned about smoke affecting drivers in the region. Hyde County Emergency Management said in a statement that, without rain, the smoke could last for more than two months.
Staff writer Cindy Clayton contributed to this report.
Ryan Hutchins, (252) 441-1627,
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
What they really think
I clipped this from our detractor below when he commented on the ships and sailors arriving from overseas this week:
Welcome Home!!
Submitted by dr87448 on Thu, 06/05/2008 at 7:35 am.
Welcome home, shipmates!!! Enjoy your well deserved time off!
Shipmates? So now we all know what the Navy rank and file, as well as a resident of Hampton Roads thinks of our lovely NE NC region. Are we their dumping ground? NO! Fight the OLF!
Smoke
I could smell the burning smoke Tuesday evening and had to shut the windows & turn on the A/C it was so strong. The 11:00 News reported the fire, but not that the burning odor had reached us. The reporters finally caught up. Hope it doesn't take the firefighters as long as they think to put it out to minimize the damage as much as possible. NC please ignore the ignorance of people who do not value life enough to understand all that is being detroyed in these fires. The trees are needed for wildlife survival and human survival. Long term affects: If we keep losing all our trees we have less to convert the bad gases to oxygen and this contributes to global warming as much as pollution. Not to mention the short term affects of all the animal lives lost and possibly human lives and homes lost. Firefighters are at risk also every time they go fight these fires. We are neighbors. We should be supporting each other not tearing each other down and using disasters as propanda for political forums. People need to wake up.
Well said DMW
I live in Va Beach and wish our Council was as loyal to the people as yours. We have a bunch of idiots who steal from the people they are suppose to protect and give to the rich hotel owners, contractors, and the NAVY!!! VOTE the COUNCEL OUT!!!!!!
Another NC Idiot
What a horrible thing to say. You wish it was a Navy bomb and people's homes would burn so the Navy could build their OLF. As another NC idiot I don't want an OLF either and intend to fight tooth and nail. It's obvious that we were here first and in fact many fine NC idiots have moved away from Va Bch because it's quiet, affordable and better quality of life. I'm sorry Mayor troll and her council croonies do not know how to put a lid on development and I'm sorry that their are sooo many people up there that need a place to live and are willing to compromise quality of life and live near Oceana but that is their choice... My choice is no OLF. And again, what a cruel thing to say.
A solution
One way to cut down on wildfires...is to develop the area (build homes, bring in industry, etc.)...that will reduce the forests and in turn cut down on the amount of forestry that burn...that will solve the problem.
Still laughing
After more than 20 years in Hampton Roads, if living here makes me an idiot I will wear it around my neck proudly. Here stands the North Carolina idiot. Do enjoy your quality of life up there dr. Hurry up and increase those taxes so I can drive on your roads for free. Do think of me every year when getting your property tax statement. Also, make sure everyone knows where you are from when visiting down south so we can put a treat in your food.
Nah!
Did the Navy drop another Training Bomb?????
Submitted by johnh31265 on Wed, 06/04/2008 at 11:41 am.
How did the fire start? Was it another Navy Practice Bomb?????
Nah...was hoping for thye real thing, burn you idiots out so the navy can build their field.......
Not more smoke?!
Smelt it yesterday. WAVY reported at their 1700 broadcast it was contained. Like to know what PR yahoo said that...
Did the Navy drop another Training Bomb?????
How did the fire start? Was it another Navy Practice Bomb?????