The N.C. Forest Service Incident Management Team is prioritizing public and firefighter safety as they continue to manage the Sunset Road Fire in Brunswick County. The fire, which began on May 2 in Boiling Spring Lakes, currently covers 1,331 acres with a containment level of 27%.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution due to the presence of wildland fire engines and large equipment on roads near the fire area. On Wednesday, personnel conducted a drone flight to identify areas of heat within the fire zone.
Incident Commander Trainee Josh Bell explained their strategy: “The main focus now is seek-and-destroy missions. We see smoke on the landscape, we go chase it. We see heat on the drone’s infrared imagery, we go chase it. Rinse and repeat, until we feel confident this thing will not come back to life.”
Crews are employing dozer operations to dismantle berms retaining heat and using engine crews to extinguish hot spots with water. Additional helicopter water drops were requested for Wednesday, focusing on the southwest section where significant ground heat persists. The helicopter operated for about two hours, completing 28 water drops.
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation. Fortunately, no homes have been destroyed by the blaze.
Weather conditions may shift with a southerly flow expected tonight, potentially increasing humidity and making showers or thunderstorms more likely. Winds are forecasted at 5-7 mph with gusts up to 15 mph. A slight chance of rain accumulation exists for late Thursday evening.
Smoke from interior hot spots remains visible from local roads as the fire continues to smolder within its footprint.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is active from ground level up to 3,000 feet around the clock until further notice. More details can be found at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_5540. Flying drones in this restricted area is illegal as it endangers pilots and disrupts firefighting efforts. The public is reminded to keep drones away from wildfire zones.
