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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: An unsettled weather pattern will bring at least a couple of opportunities for showers and thunderstorms through Tuesday. If thunderstorms occur over the fire area, expect wetting rainfall, gusty and erratic winds, and frequent lightning over the next couple of days, in between thunderstorms. Wind gusts up to 15-25 mph may occur each afternoon. A cooler and drier weather pattern returns by mid-week.

Acreage: 32,400 acres; Containment: 75%; Personnel and Equipment: 211 total personnel; 2 helicopters, 10 engines, 2 Type-2 and 5 Type-3 tractor plow units, 2 track-mounted engines, 1 drone and 1 ambulance.

Yesterday: firefighting efforts continued to make good progress on extinguishing any new heat sources near the firelines.  The current weather drying trend has resulted in more smokes from heat sources but not threatening lines.  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: 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 are ongoing today for additional piping and pumping in the southwest portion of the fire. The TFR is back in place with a lower ceiling than before in consideration of Military flights out of Cherry Point. This is necessary to allow for safe operations of the drone equipped with infrared to detect heat sources.

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.  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