Single Publication

Great Lakes Fire Update 

Friday May 6, 2023 

 Hours: 8 am-8 pm Phone: (252) 285-6174   Email: 2023.GreatLakes@firenet.gov  
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/ncncf-great-lakes  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nfsnc/  

The primary objective for the Gray Team is public and firefighter safety 

PLEASE BE AWARE: Wildland fire engines and large equipment will continue to be on roads in the fire area and travelling to and from assignments on US Hwy 70 between Havelock and New Bern. Please slow down and use caution when driving near them.  

BLACK SWAMP ROAD CLOSED:  Fire suppression through the use of water pumping operations along Black Swamp Road within the fire footprint will involve numerous types of equipment and personnel. To ensure firefighter and public safety the Black Swamp Road will remain closed to the public by barricades. 

High pressure will continue over the region on Saturday. The sea breeze pushing through during the afternoon with an isolated shower possible. Winds will become southerly behind the sea breeze with gusts up to 15 mph possible. The airmass will continue to moderate with highs in the upper 70s and minimum relative humidity values around 40 percent. 

Acreage: 32,400 acres; Containment: 70%; Personnel and Equipment: 199 total personnel; 2 helicopters, 10 engines, 1 Type-2 and 3 Type-3 tractor plow units, 1 excavator and 2 ambulances.  

Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor for heat sources today. Planned flooding is continuing to raise the water-table and rehydrate the organic soils affecting about 1,000 acres of the fire.  Additional planned flooding operations will occur along Black Swamp Road. Crews continue to patrol and extinguish heat sources and flames as dried needles fall from pine trees and accumulate on the burned over sections of the fire. This will be a continuous issue as “needlecast” increases new light fuels on the ground.  

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

Closures: The road closures on Forest Service Road 203 (Holston Creek Road) remains in effect.  Black Swamp Road is closed due to fire suppression equipment and personnel working along the road.  Updates to road closures surrounding the fire are at https://drivenc.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