The Holly Shelter wildfire grew slightly Monday, due in part to burnout efforts which helped take containment to 30 percent.
Considered one of the most unique and challenging areas in the country due to fuels and organic soils, the wildfire has No. 1 priority in the southern United States and No. 4 priority in the nation, John Howard told about 30 attendees during a meeting at Topsail High School Monday night.
“This fire is very serious; it has so much potential,” said Howard, the deputy incident commander for North Carolina Forestry Service, at the public informational meeting. “Being given this priority allows us to get equipment we might not be able to otherwise get … from federal resources as well as state resources.”
In spite of the rain, forestry was able to burnout about 1,000 acres of their original goal of 1,500 acres along the southeast, triangular side of the wildfire near Traders Neck Road Monday. The burnout is designed to secure the eastern side and block the fire from reaching N.C. 17, Bruce MacDonald, a spokesman for the forestry service, told attendees.
Latest numbers show the fire now encompasses 22,659 acres and is now 30 percent contained due to Monday’s efforts, he said.
Investigators have been able to confirm the fire was started due to a lightening strike the afternoon of June 19, he said.
“There was evidence of several trees being struck by lightening in the Juniper Road area,” he said.
Weather predictions call for winds out of the north, so Hampstead and residents in the vicinity of Hampstead may experience more smoke Wednesday into Thursday, Howard said.
With 214 personnel, 21 tractor plow units, 25 engines, and other vital equipment Howard said forestry “feels good” about containment lines on the east side and the northwest sides of the fire.
“But there are still plenty of hot spots, and it does not mean the fire could not escape the fire lines,” he warned. “There are still areas uncontained and our concern right now is to find a way to stop the fire on the south side and the north side in kind of no man’s land where the fire right is slowly creeping — areas so inhospitable that our equipment and firefighters cannot get in there.”
As part of that effort, crews have been improving roads ahead of the fire in both those areas, he said.
“And we have contingency plans in place,” he said.
Brian Linder, who lives on Shady Pines Drive off of Traders Neck Road came to the meeting to find out as much information as possible.
“Looking at the map it appears to be just behind my house,” he said. “We can stand on the back deck and see the smoke.”
Just in case he has some things packed up.
“But I have remained optimistic, but that’s why I came tonight to find out if I can stay that way or not,” he said.
Howard said the No. 1 priority is protecting life and property.
Should warnings and evacuations be needed, he explained “trigger pulls” — mass notification alerts via phone calls, media, internet, fire and police — would be implemented.
Local law enforcement and Highway Patrol have been monitoring area roadways for visibility issues from smoke.
Health officials continue to warn the public about health concerns due to smoke and the ban on open burning for every county south of U.S. 64 and east of I-95.
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