Single Publication

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2023
CONTACT: Philip Jackson, public information officer

N.C. Forest Service
919-857-4828 or philip.jackson@ncagr.gov

Containment lines around the Last Resort Fire hold firm against Saturday wind gusts

CRESWELL – Despite substantial wind gusts across the fire area Saturday, the Last
Resort Fire in Tyrrell County is now 56% contained. Additional mapping revealed the fire is
5,280 acres in size. 

Firefighting personnel established pump sites at Phelps Lake and a fresh water canal
alongside Seagoing Road. Water is flowing from Phelps Lake and should begin saturating the
fire area by end of day Monday. Water will be used to soak the area over the next several days.
Water handling operations are crucial for pumping water and moving it to the fire area to
minimize loss of organic soil, reduce smoke impacts and prevent reburn.

Operational resources working the fire include 79 personnel from the N.C. Forest Service
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

There are no injuries and no structures threatened at this time. The cause of the fire was
determined to be a debris burn on private land that escaped containment.

A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in effect for the Last Resort Fire. The TFR
restricts all civilian aircraft, manned and unmanned, within 5 miles of the fire. The flight
restriction remains in place until aviation support is no longer needed.

A community meeting will be held at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Visitor
Center Sunday, April 2, at 3 p.m. Representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
the N.C. Forest Service will address the plan for moving water to the fire area and answer
questions.

For information updates, visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ncpor-
last-resort-fire.

Sign up to receive the latest updates on the Last Resort Fire. Check the box “Last Resort
Fire 2023.”