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Updated: 8:59 PM Feb 13, 2009
Fire Crews Monitor Hot Spots, Investigate 251-Acre Wildfire
Crews remain on the scene of a wildfire in Pitt County that scorched more than 250 acres. Posted: 1:56 PM Feb 12, 2009 |
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44 Comments 
Fire crews are monitoring hot spots and assessing the damage from a wildfire that still smolder in Pitt County. Officials reported Friday just before noon that 251 acres were scorched.
The fire is contained. Forestry officials are sending up a scout plane this afternoon to make sure the fire lines are holding.
The investigation into how exactly the fire started continues today. Last night, forestry officials told WITN News a legal land clearing project started the blaze.
As one point, Pitt County had 21 pieces of fire equipment on the scene from eight departments and two EMS units. Overall, more than 150 people battled the blaze.
Planes and helicopters were called in to drop retardant and water onto the blaze.
The 200 plus acre fire stretched for miles all caused by what forestry calls a legal land clearing project.
Fire officials say it was lit a couple days ago and due to the winds, humidity, and temperature it spotted into a pine plantation. Once it spotted the pine plantation it was wind driven from there. Then it was a matter of getting resources on it to contain it.
Those resources spent all Thursday afternoon battling jumping hot spots due to the wind gusts. It took a bevy of brave men and women to keep it under control.
Over eight fire departments with over 109 firefighters helped knock down the smoke and flames. No one was injured.
Crews say they plan to keep crews monitoring the situation to make sure hot spots don't jump from one field to the next.
Forestry officials brought in plows to help dig fire lines.
Emergency officials on the scene say no houses have been affected.
Wind gusts were as high as 30 miles per hour when the fire started to spread.
Other fires that sparked Thursday which are now under control were off of Creek Road in Pitt County and 5th and 15th Streets in the Beaufort County town of Washington.
Latest Comments
I would like to comment that whoever the Incident Commander was, did a fine job. No structures were involved and a great amount of appreciation should be shown to those departments and firefighters that battled the fire. Three things to accomplish are Incident Stabilization, mitigation of the incident, and property conservation, while maintaining a safe fire ground. All three of these were accomplished due to the prompt action of the Incident Commander. To all departments involved, "Fine Job." Thanks for being ready, able, and trained to respond when those of us are in need of assistance. To anyone who questions the actions of those in charge of the incident, feel free to volunteer at your local Fire Department to offer assistance. "Ronald Bartel: The funny thing about firemen is... Night and day they are always firemen."
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For all of you who dont have a clue about this story, they didnt START the legal fire YESTERDAY, it was started about 4 days ago, they were even putting more dirt on it yesterday and the wind gusts were too strong so it started up. It wasnt even smoldering anymore. So please, dont be ignorant before you ask!
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I was just driving to Washington and noticed another bad fire at the intersection of 264 and Greenville Boulevard, across from the new gas station and Wendy's
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