Fire Closes Hyde Co. Schools Early

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Posted: 10:18 PM Jun 5, 2008
Last Updated: 2:23 PM Jun 6, 2008
Reporter: Dave Jordan

13 comments

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All Hyde County schools closed at 12:30 p.m. because of concerns with the fire.

Friday was the last day of school, and administrators said with the changing winds there were concerns that by 3:00 p.m. conditions would worsen.

Several school systems in our area also delayed opening this morning because of the fire.

Martin County Schools were on a one hour delay Friday because of smoke from the Hyde County wildfire. Washington County Schools had a two hour delay.

Shifting winds last night pushed the smoke into Martin, Pitt and Beaufort Counties.

The dense smoke advisory Friday has been canceled.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: James Location: Knotts Island, N.C. on Jun 10, 2008 at 08:00 PM
It's 8pm Tuesday up here near the Va./N.C line and I can hardly go outside because of the smoke. Not a breath of wind either. hope the wind picks up and blows it out before morning.

Posted by: Cliff Saxon Location: Altoona, AL on Jun 6, 2008 at 02:26 PM
If the smoke is that bad, just close the schools for the day. Better Safe Than Sorry!

Posted by: Resident Location: Edenton on Jun 6, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Giving credit where credit is due: The school that my children attend in Chowan county, changed their original decision, and opted to not send the children outside today, in the smoke (even though it is much better now, than it was this morning). I appreciate that & commend them for their good decision. I was shocked & appalled this morning, when they told me they planned to proceed, business as usual, despite the fact you could barely see past the parking lot. I'm glad they changed their minds. Kudos to them. Better late than never!

Posted by: Katie Location: Greenville on Jun 6, 2008 at 11:56 AM
My roommates and I smelled the smoke last night, thinking there was a fire somewhere near us. We drove towards downtown, and still smelled it. We drove over near Memorial Drive and still smelled it, but never saw anything, and wasnt until the 11 o'clock news that we even knew anything of the fire. But this morning surprisingly there was no smoke smell, and still this afternoon nothing. my concern is if it will be moving into our area, and how long. I'm a junior at East Carolina and and pushed for summer school classes to graduate in time next May.

Posted by: Parent in Washington County Location: Plymouth on Jun 6, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Last night the smoke was horrible. I don't have any respiratory diseases but found it difficult to tolerate the thick smoke. Question? Why was the decision to delay schools in Washington County not announced until 7 am? Why was school staff not alerted earlier? Why will all the schools in the County get out early except for Union?

Posted by: Resident Location: Edenton on Jun 6, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Concerned parent in Chowan: You might find this link of interest (though it's two days old). It clearly outlines how seriously unadviseable it is, for young children to be breathing this type of air. It's far more dangerous than cigarette smoke. http://www.ncair.org/news/pr/2008/hyde_fire_06042008.shtml I was told the same thing this morning...they're still going to send them outside! Unbelieveable! All I can say is, I understand your frustration & concern. I will be picking my child up once they can no longer be counted absent for the day (11:30 am). I wonder this: Would they ever consider putting all those kids in a room hazed with cigarette smoke? Sending them outside in these conditions, is even worse, in my opinion! You should also read this. It's a real eye-opener: http://209.85.215.104/search?q=cache:-KyCDYEU5DwJ:www.arb.ca.gov/smp/progdev/pubeduc/wfgv8.pdf wildfire smoke worse than cigarette smoke&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

Posted by: Mimi Location: Roanoke Rapids on Jun 6, 2008 at 10:04 AM
We can smell the smoke from my house in Roanoke Rapids. I am so sorry for all that are effected by this tragedy!

Posted by: concerned parent Location: chowan on Jun 6, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Chowan schools were not delayed at all, and they are still planning on taking the children outside all day for an EOG celebration...... maybe they will realize the problem this smoke can cause when they have children and staff members going to the hospital.

Posted by: Ashley Location: Williamston on Jun 6, 2008 at 07:32 AM
The smell of the air outside is just horrifying. It smells like wood that has just been burned, rotten. To think of those people in the Hyde County fire... It's terrible. I sure hope the fire department can put out this fire very, very soon so people can live their lives in peace.

Posted by: Resident Location: Edenton on Jun 6, 2008 at 07:03 AM
Chowan is not delaying schools. I've called the school & the bus just went by. I just cannot get over, that all these counties are blanketed in smoke, not fog, and none have delays/cancellations, but Martin, and it's only a 1 hr delay. It's unsafe for these children to be on the road..unsafe for them to be choking on this smoke, on the bus...unsafe because it may worsen, and they might not be able to bus them back home. I just cannot get over it. I pray that no children will be injured/hurt/involved in any accidents or threatening health issues, traveling to & from school today, as a result of these school administrators decisions! This smoke is as thick as any fog, that they've delayed school for, upteen times, in the past. I just don't understand their logic. Inside my house, the air is ok. I wish my children could stay here. But, we'll have to brave the road & head out to school. I truly don't want to. I'll be praying for our safety...and everyone else's.

Posted by: Resident Location: Edenton on Jun 6, 2008 at 06:34 AM
I'm not in Martin County, but I am in Chowan, which is blanketed in thick, dense smoke at 6 am this morning. As far as I know, Chowan hasn't issued a delay for schools yet, but I'll be shocked if they don't. But, I'm not sure I understand the "delay" concept, with smoke, instead of the fog that usually causes these delays. Smoke is not like fog that "burns off" as the day begins. Do they expect the smoke is going to get better after 9 am? Is the one hr delay based on the NWS smoke advisory until 9 am? The way it looks here, that advisory is bound to be extended. And I hope this school officials realize...again, this smoke is not like fog...instead of getting better, as the day wears on, it very well may get worse! What will they do if they can't see to bus'em back home?! I does look an awful lot like dense fog, from my window. But, 1 step outside, & you are overcome with the choking smell of smoke. Poor kids on a bus! This type of smoke is far worse than cigarette sm.

Posted by: Windsor Resident Location: Windsor on Jun 6, 2008 at 01:06 AM
A dense fog of smoke is also visible here in Windsor, in Bertie County. The smell is strong even in the house. Is this just due to the wind shift?

Posted by: James Location: Beargrass on Jun 5, 2008 at 10:28 PM
The smell of burning wood and a dense smoke is in the air. It is a terrible ordeal for the people who are suffering from this fire i hope everyone stays safe and the firefighters can bring this to a hault soon

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