Ponzer, NC -- North Carolina Division of Forest Services says the fire jumped containment lines last night and has engulfed some 9,500 acres of woods in Hyde and Washington counties.Public information officer Ned Berg tells WITN News that the fire jumped lines around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday night and headed toward Lake Phelps. Berg says the fire has now tripled in size from Tuesday. Lightning started the fire Sunday.
In Washington County, a state of emergency remains in effect. That means evacuees must remain evacuated. Fire crews are "backburning" at Evans Road near Lake Phelps to try to contain the fire.
Washington County manager David Peoples says the evacuations are at Newland Road and Shore Drive in the southern portion of Lake Phelps. Peoples says 39 homes are in danger.
A change in the wind direction may have saved those homes, Peoples said Wednesday morning. The fire made it to Lake Phelps Tuesday night. Peoples said the mile-wide fire was moving fast, at a rate of one mile per hour Tuesday night. One thousand acres in Washington County burned, as of 2 a.m. Wednesday.
N.C. Division of Forest Services spokesman Brian Haines tells WITN News that the fire last night jumped containment lines and "made a five mile run". The fire has also now spread into the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
Haines says they have 100 firefighters battling the blaze, brought in from across the state. They are also looking at bringing a plane in from Florida to help as well.
The change in wind direction is good news for the homes in Washington County, but bad news, Peoples added, for Tyrrell County.
Currituck County officials now are warning those on the Outer Banks that smoke from the fire could impact them. Citizens are advised to be cautious when outdoors, and remain indoors if having difficulty breathing.
Full Story: WITN
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