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PLEASE BE AWARE: Wildland fire engines and large equipment will continue to be on roads in the fire area and traveling to and from assignments on US Hwy 70 between Havelock and New Bern.  

Please slow down and use caution when driving near them.  

Weather: A cold front moved south across Eastern North Carolina with scattered to numerous thunderstorms, frequent lightning and wetting rainfall, yesterday evening and wind gusts as high as 55-65 mph in some area. A northerly wind shift behind the cold front and thunderstorms, is bringing drier northeasterly flow that is expected to persist this week. 

Acreage: 32,400 acres; Containment: 80%; Personnel and Equipment: 208 total personnel; 1 helicopter, 10 engines, 2 Type-2 and 5 Type-3 tractor plow units, 2 track-mounted engines, 2 drones and 1 ambulance.  

Yesterday: The weather drying trend continued to result in more smokes from heat sources and crews made good progress extinguishing new heat forces.  Afternoon thunderstorms yesterday temporarily interrupted the drying trend by bringing wetting rains across much of the fire area.  Known locations of ground fire will still require long term monitoring and flooding operations to raise surface water levels to extinguish ground fire and alleviate fire and smoke concerns for the local communities and infrastructure.  

Today: While last evening rains have helped, we will be again moving back into a drying trend. Firefighters will continue today to patrol and identify hot spots and areas of concern. Mop up operations with engines, crews, and heavy equipment continue, with focus on the southern portion of the fire, and the northernmost fireline. Flooding operations for areas of ground-fire in the southeastern part of the fire continue. Preparations for additional piping and pumping in the southwest portion of the fire were delayed and will resume today.  Contingency lines are being completed in several locations around the fire with dozers.  Contingency lines are typically constructed or identified as a secure holding point should the fire burn over primary firelines. 

• Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place effective May 9, 2023 from 6 AM to 2 PM local time, and altitude from the surface up to and including 1000 feet, daily until further notice, to allow for safe operations of the drone equipped with infrared to detect heat sources. The lower ceiling than the TFR last week is in consideration of Military flights out of Cherry Point. Complete information is at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_2893.html 

• Closures: The road closures on Forest Service Road 203 (Holston Creek Road) and Black Swamp Road remain in effect. Updates to road closures surrounding the fire are at https://drivenc.gov/.    

• Air quality: Information on current air quality data for North Carolina is at https://www.airnow.gov/.   

• Firewise: Information on preparing your home and property to reduce the risk from fire can be found at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firwise-USA  

• Donations: Those interested in donating to firefighters, please consider assisting your local fire departments and /or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation https://wffoundation.org