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 has been burning since May 2 in Boiling Spring Lakes, covers an area of 1,331 acres and is currently 74% contained.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution due to the presence of wildland fire engines and large equipment on roads near the fire area. This caution is particularly important during rain, which can reduce visibility.
On Friday morning, approximately four-tenths of an inch of rain fell over the fire area. Firefighters concentrated their efforts on areas with persistent hot spots, mainly in the northeast corner and southern tip of the fire. Incident Commander Brad Allen noted significant progress: “We’ve made progress by leaps and bounds in the past couple of days with our dozer and water handling operations. We’ve been able to send some of our resources back to their home units, but we are not turning our backs on this fire just yet. We’ve still got some cleanup work to do.”
A drone equipped with infrared technology will be deployed again today to identify remaining heat sources underground. The containment percentage indicates sections of the fire line that pose no escape risk without further action from firefighters.
Weather forecasts predict unsettled conditions near the coast through Sunday due to a stalling cold front. An area of low pressure expected early next week may result in extended rainy weather, potentially aiding firefighting efforts.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in effect at altitudes up to 3,000 feet until further notice. Information about this restriction can be found at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_8047. The public is reminded that flying drones within a TFR designated area is illegal and poses risks to pilot safety and firefighting operations.
