Single Publication

NEW BERN, N.C., May 14, 2025 – The Black Swamp Fire on the Croatan National Forest is now 77% contained and remains at 950 acres. An interagency team of 99 personnel are currently assigned to the fire.

In the last several days, the Black Swamp Fire area received just under 4” of rain in 36 hours. This precipitation has aided firefighters suppressing the fire, but pockets of heat remain. Today, firefighters are ground-truthing hotspots that were identified by infrared yesterday. With warmer weather incoming, hotspots pose a risk of creeping into drier fuels and burning more intensely. Firefighters will work to catch these sources of heat before they spread. 

Higher water levels in the canals will provide a water source for pumping water to the interior of the fire. These higher water levels will also seep into the soil and aid in raising the water table, helping achieve the overall goal of saturating the soil from both above and below. 

As roads dry, crews will also look for opportunities to utilize equipment to improve access as conditions allow.

The public is reminded to abide by all posted closures keeping firefighter and public safety in mind. Closures remain 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.

For the latest wildfire updates, follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook at U.S. Forest Service - National Forests in North Carolina 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 is working in close partnership with state and federal agencies, including the North Carolina Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and the National Park Service.