BURGAW, N.C. – With another week of 100-degree temperatures, firefighters in Pender County are hoping for rain and the Holly Shelter Game Land’s fire continues to burn more than a month after it started.
U.S. Forest Service spokesman Phillip Reams told the Associated Press there are five fire trucks and 55 firefighters battling the fire. They’re dealing with the heat and lack of shade by drinking water and taking breaks in air conditioned cars and trucks.
Officials say organic peat moss is still burning underground, which causes some challenges for fire crews.
The fire, which began on June 19, is still 85-percent contained and has burned 31,000 acres. So far, the fire has cost $3.3 million.
---Previous Story, Pender Co. wildfire costs more than $3 million---
BURGAW, N.C. -- Officials say the wildfire in Pender Co. now costs more than $3 million dollars.
Officials released the updated figure on Thursday. The fire is still 85-percent contained and has burned more than 31,000 acres.
Crews are keeping a close eye on the fire as the heat increases.
---Previous Story, Officials say Pender Co. fire price tag tops $2 Million---
BURGAW, N.C. – Fire crews say the Holly Shelter wildfire has cost an estimated $2.8 Million dollars to fight.
Officials are also keeping an eye on the heat wave forecast for this week. Crews say that the lack of rain plus the heat means an increase in fire activity. That is why crews expect more fire activity this week.
The fire has been 85-percent contained since July 13. Crews say the fire has burned 31,140 acres since it began on June 19. Officials say lightning started the fire.
---Previous Story, Pender Co. fire 85-percent contained; flare-ups still possible---
BURGAW, N.C. – Officials fighting a wildfire in Pender County say they now have it 85-percent contained.
Crews say the Holly Shelter fire hasn’t increased in size but that there is still a chance it could grow. Crews also asked that you stay away from the fire area because of falling trees.
The fire began on June 19. It was sparked by lightning.
---Previous Story, Pender Co. fire 78-percent contained; flare-ups still possible---
BURGAW, N.C. - Firefighters still battling the Holly Shelter Gameland wildfire say they may face some trouble this week.
Crews expect some flare-ups because of the extreme heat this week.
Tthe fire is about 78 percent contained.
It's been burning since mid-Jjune and has charred more than 31,000 acres.
Smoke remains a problem for those living in Onslow, Pender, and surrounding counties.
--- Previous Story - Holly Shelter wildfire now 78% contained ---
BURGAW, N.C.. – There is more good news from Pender County.
Officials say the Holly Shelter wildfire has stopped growing and they have it under more control. We know that officials have it 78-percent contained. We also know the fire has burned more than 31,000 acres.
Crews also tell us it's likely the smoke will continue to impact the east for some time, until the fire is put out.
---Previous Story, Holly Shelter wildfire still 68% contained---
BURGAW, N.C. - The Holly Shelter wildfire in Pender and Onslow counties is still 68-percent contained this afternoon. It’s burned more than 31,000 acres.
Dense smoke and fog from the wildfire dropped visibility to a quarter mile in some places through the day Monday.
Firefighters have been working around the clock to stop the fire from spreading since it started last month.
--- Previous Story - Firefighters making progress on Holly Shelter wildfire ---
BURGAW, N.C. - Firefighters battling the Holly Shelter wildfire are starting to see the silver lining.
The fire burning in Pender and Onslow counties is now 68-percent contained.
Controlled burns through the week helped in the progress. The burn out on the south side of the fire is preventing flames from spreading to communities along Highway 17.
Helicopters crews are keeping a close eye on hot spots.
So far, the fire has burned more than 30-thousand acres.
And smoke from that wildfire is still a big nuisance across the east.
One of the hardest hit areas, Onslow County, got another round of thick smoke and fog this morning. And that's causing some problems for air transportation.
The Albert J. Ellis Airport in Jacksonville says the smoke caused several cancellations and delays this week.
Airport officials are working with firefighters to monitor smoke conditions until the fire is contained.
--- Previous Story - Holly Shelter wildfire now 68-percent contained ---
PENDER COUNTY, N.C. -- A wildfire in Pender County is now 68-percent contained.
The Holly Shelter fire has burned more than 30,000 acres so far and on Wednesday we saw rain in the east but it didn't appear to help much.
Onslow County will be under a dense smoke advisory for the early part of the morning. New Hanover and Pender counties will also have smoke problems on Thursday.
In Onslow County, people spent Wednesday afternoon dealing with flooded roads and smoke.
---Previous Story, From fire to floods, Onslow County has seen it all this week---
SNEADS FERRY, N.C. - Biscuit and gravy, the special at Capitan Jims, Wednesday, but flooded roads, were not on the menu's Caitlin Trexel handed out.
“People still come, I mean we're pretty busy,” Trexel said.
The southern part of Onslow County, got several inches of rain in just a few hours.
Some cars waded through, most turn around.
Fletcher Landing road, does this during heavy rain, she says.
The view out back is nothing new either.
“We actually went to Jacksonville yesterday, and it was so smoky you could barely breathe,” she said.
Trexel washed her car a few days ago, the next morning covered with ash.
The remnants of that still burning holly shelter wildfire surprised Vicki Conner
“There is definitely smoke in the air,” said Conner, here visiting family from Maryland. She'd have come rain or shine.
“When we ride through it, the windows go up and turn on the ac,” she said.
Everyone is looking for relief, Trexel is hopeful this weather will offer some.
“Just let the rain take care of it,” Trexel said so she can focus, on taking care of them.
--- Previous Story- Firefighters back at it fighting Holly Shelter wildfire flames ---
Firefighters are back at it again today fighting flames in Pender and Onslow counties.
The Holly Shelter wildfire is still only 30-percent contained. And it caused a lot of smoke problems for people in those counties yesterday.
The wildfire is now more than 30,000 acres in size, and poses a threat to more than 2,000 homes.
A controlled burn helped to secure the fire's perimeter yesterday.
We'll have all the latest on the wildfire tonight at six.
--- Previous Story - Firefighters setting back burns by air to fight Holly Shelter wildfire ---
BURGAW, N.C. - Firefighters could use some rain to keep several wildfires from spreading.
In fact, it's taken hundreds of workers, thousands of man hours, and the latest fire, the Holly Shelter fire, is still only 30 percent contained.
But firefighters say burning off 8,000 acres of under brush which fueled this fire, should give them a leg up.
That back burn as they call it is set by hand and from the air as well.
They fly in and out of the burn area, back for more fuel, and out again.
Greg Haufle's logged more than 26,000 hours in a helicopter. He's had a KMAX for 14 years. It’s a water dropper.
Haufle said he's sat in the cockpit thousands of times, putting out the fire he says can be as easy as pushing a button.
“Go over to the fire, push the button and drop the water, and go back and do it all over again,” he explained.
But today, Haufle’s copter sits grounded. Today, they’re lighting fires making it easier to put out when the time comes they say.
Jorge Gomez is no stranger to fires either. His chopper does it all.
“We either put equipment in to start fires or we put out the fire,” he said.
The evidence of their hard work towers 6,000 feet above. And on the ground.
It's doing just what they'd hoped, laying the groundwork for putting the fire out with an impact sky high.
The extra 8,000 acres is necessary because the fire is burning in a very remote area.
Forestry officials moved the containment lines out to roads and power lines to give them a better idea on how to navigate the burn area.
--- Previous Story -
BURGAW, N.C. - The Holly Shelter wildfire continues to burn this afternoon as firefighters work to get the fire under control.
The fire has burned almost 23,000 acres and is 30% contained.
The fire poses no direct threat to people nearby and a burn out operation conducted yesterday should keep it that way. That operation will burn off brush and forest near some of the more populated areas surrounding the fire.
Officials say they hope they don't get rain until after the burn out is done. Otherwise, they'll have to wait until the forest and brush dry up to try again.
--- Previous Story - Holly Shelter Firefighters Fight Fire, With Fire ---
BURGAW, N.C. - The Holly Shelter wildfire continues to burn tonight, as fire fighters ramp up their efforts to get the blaze under control.
The fire has burned more than 21-thousand acres and today stands at 25 percent contained.
The blaze still poses no direct threat to people near by, and a burn out operation today aims to keep it that way.
Crews from across the nation have teamed up with local officials to help them fight back against a fire that sits uncomfortably close thousands of homes.
The burnout operation will burn off brush and forest surrounding some of the more populated areas surrounding the fire.
"Basically starve the wildfire of fuel," said Vic French has been doing this for more than 30 years.
He was here for the 70-thousand acre fire in 1986, and even he acknowledges it wasn't this dry then.
"There's no soil moisture down for several, 3 or 4 feet," said French.
They fuel up their drip torches, the plan is to start this fire from the air, and by hand.
As the fire ignites, a plume of smoke rises above holly shelters game land, a good sign.
"Its doing exactly what we hoped it would do," he said.
So intense, so fast, it actually sucks air from where we are a few miles away.
Wind that'll fuel the fire, and Bruce McDonald with the Forest Service says that's the point.
"There's gonna be a way to stop it," said McDonald.
They'll continue monitoring the fire all night long.
Hoping their flames, will send this fire, up in smoke.
Mcdonald says rain will be a good thing, once the burn out is completed.
Before that, and they'll be forced to wait until the forest and brush is dry enough, and try again.
--- PREVIOUS STORY ---
The Holly Shelter wildfire in Pender County continues to burn as fire fighters ramp up their efforts to get the blaze under control.
The fire has burned more than 21,000 acres and today it's about 25% contained.
There is no direct threat to people and a back-burn out operation today aimed to keep it that way.
Today, the Forest Service faced down the blaze fighting fire with fire.
It just keeps burning. And crews from across the nation have teamed up with local officials to help them fight back against a fire that sits uncomfortably close thousands of homes.
“We're gonna burn this now under our terms,” said Bruce McDonald with the North Carolina Forest Service. “That will help keep the fire within the lines.”
He’s talking about a burnout operation to burn off brush and forest surrounding some of the more populated areas surrounding the fire basically starving the wildfire of fuel.
Vic French has been doing this for more than 30 years. He was here for the 70-thousand acre fire in 1986, and even he acknowledges it wasn't this dry then.
“There’s no soil moisture down for several, 3 or 4 feet,” he said.
They fuel up their drip torches. The plan is to start this fire from the air and by hand. As the fire ignites, a plume of smoke rises above Holly Shelters Game Land. It’s a good sign.
“Its doing exactly what we hoped it would do,” he said.
“So intense, so fast, it actually sucks air from where we are a few miles away,” said McDonald. Wind that'll fuel the fire and McDonald says that’s the point, saying “There’s gonna be a way to stop it.”
They'll continue monitoring the fire all night long hoping their flames will send this fire up in smoke.
McDonald says rain will be a good thing once the burn out is completed.
Before that and they'll be forced to wait until the forest and brush is dry enough, and try again.
--- Previous Story - Pender County wildfire 25-percent contained ---
PENDER COUNTY, N.C. - A wildfire in Pender County is still burning this afternoon as crews continue to fight the flames.
Right now, the fire is 25% contained and has burned more than 21,000 acres.
Crews on the ground tells us they're hoping for more dry weather in the coming days, because rain could slow down crews as they work to build containment lines. Crews are working toward containment on the south side.
"The fire is uncontained on the south side and while it's not being pushed anywhere by the wind right now it's in a position where it could still get up and move," said Bruce McDonald, N.C. Forestry Service.
Forestry officials are putting on a public meeting tonight at Topsail High School where they'll give the latest update on their efforts.
That meeting will get underway at seven o'clock.
---Previous Story, Firefighters say rain could hinder containment efforts---
SURF CITY, N.C. - The Juniper Road wildfire continues to burn today. Firefighters battle heavy smoke and flames as afternoon sea breezes causes fires to intensify.
A short drive into the wildfire shows the damage the flames have left behind and the long road ahead.
“The fire is uncontained on the south side and while it’s not being pushed anywhere by the wind right now it’s in a position where it could still get up and move,” said Bruce McDonald with the N.C. Forestry Service.
McDonald says dry weather, not rain, is exactly what teams are hoping for in the coming days.
Rain would create muddy conditions slowing down crews as they work to build containment lines.
McDonald says their prime concern moving into next week is to contain this blaze now at only 20 percent.
More than 140 firefighters from all across the nation are working to put out the fire and “continuing to build a fire line along power lines and get those as intact as possible in preparation for the needed burnout on this southeast corner,” said McDonald.
Crews are performing a direct attack on the north side of the wildfire while, simultaneously, working toward containment on the southeast side.
“We’re going to come out to containment lines that we’re choosing, that we’re reinforcing, that we fill can be a strong point for the fire and then use fire to consume the fuel, the vegetation, between fire line and the fire,” said McDonald.
McDonald says as long as their containment lines hold, Surf City and Holly Ridge will not be in any danger.
Forestry officials are putting on a public meeting 7 o’clock Sunday night at the Maple Hill Community Center where they’ll give the latest update on their efforts.
A second meeting will be conducted 7 o’clock Monday night at Topsail High School.
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