Single Publication

NEW BERN, N.C., May 18, 2025 – This will be the last daily update for the Black Swamp Fire on the Croatan National Forest. Firefighters on the Black Swamp continue steadily increasing containment. The fire remains at 950-acre footprint, with 87% containment and 67 personnel.

Firefighters will continue pumping water into the fire area to fully saturate the soil, limiting the risk of fire growth as fuels dry. Mop up will continue around the fire perimeter, working steadily to fully contain the fire. Unused equipment will be backhauled from the fire area so it can be cleaned and stored for future firefighting efforts. Heavy equipment will be used to improve ditches and repair roads to return the environment to pre-fire conditions. This effort, known as “suppression repair,” limits disturbance to the area and aid in response to future fires in the area. Crews will continue to monitor the fire’s activity and adjust strategy if needed.

All Forest Closures remain in place, as firefighters are still accessing the area. To keep firefighters and the public safe, please abide by all closures in effect for Black Swamp Road, the Black Swamp OHV area, Great Lake Boating Access Area and Sheep Ridge Wilderness Area, as well as portions of Great Lake Road, Seaborn Road and Holston Hunter Road. Updates to closure areas will be posted on the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/nfsnc.

For the latest wildfire updates, follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina

Smoke from the fire can cause limited visibility and may impact local air quality. Please drive slowly and use caution on roads where smoke may be settling. Check for air quality alerts at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/ or https://fire.airnow.gov.

The USDA Forest Service will continue working in close partnership with state and federal agencies as fire activity lessens and suppression repair begins, including the North Carolina Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and the National Park Service.