Evans Road Fire Article- The Virginia Pilot- July
Incident: Evans Road Wildland Fire
Released: 7/24/2008
Despite rains, N.C. wildfire's hot spots persist
Posted to: Environment News Wildfires North Carolina
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 24, 2008
The wildfire that's burned through rural areas in Washington, Hyde and Tyrrell counties has received an average of more than 2 inches of rain since last week, but hot spots persist.
"Every little bit of rain helps," said Nigel Baker, a spokesman with the incident command center. "But as we've been saying, we need several inches at least."
That means the fire, which started nearly two months ago after a lightning strike, will continue to burrow into the peat-filled soil until a continuous rainfall comes, Baker said Wednesday afternoon.
Extinguishing the fire would take 5 to 6 inches falling as part of a continuous rain cycle - occurring over several days or several weeks, he said. "So it doesn't evaporate or dissipate."
Firefighters have placed 14 gauges around the fire to measure 24-hour rain averages. Tuesday evening thunderstorms brought an average of an inch of rain to the fire.
"The east side of the fire received about 2 inches of rain," Baker said, but he noted that one portion received just a quarter of an inch. On Saturday, the fire got less than half an inch of rain on average, said a news release. Tropical Storm Cristobal brought 0.6 inches Sunday.
Baker said a helicopter with infrared technology typically flies over the fire every day to check for hot spots. On Wednesday, Baker said, there were "a lot of hot spots."
Surface burning has been minimal due to the rain, he said. Late last week, there were reports of flame lengths reaching 10 to 15 feet, according to a news release.
The fire's size has been updated after planning personnel were able to create a more accurate map, Baker said.
Since it s start, the fire has charred 40,704 acres. Officially the blaze is considered 75 percent contained, but much of the open edge faces wetland, officials have said.
There is some surface-level smoke on the eastern side of the fire, Baker said. But it hasn't been thick enough to affect other portions of northeastern North Carolina. State air quality officials have stopped monitoring the fire's smoke.
Ryan Hutchins, (252) 441-1627, ryan.hutchins@pilotonline.
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Forwarded byDiana Kees
Communications Director
N.C. Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
1601 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
(919) 715-4112; fax (919) 715-5181
