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Updated: 9:38 PM Jul 4, 2008
Evans Road Wildfire Grows; Smoke Remains A Problem
Lower humidity and gusty winds help expand the Evans Road wildfire for the first time in two weeks. Posted: 9:01 AM Jul 4, 2008Reporter: Bill Wilson  Wildfire One Month Old Wildfire Brings Another Code Purple Wildfire now 70% contained Wildfire 60% Contained Code Purple Alert Issued Evacuation Lifted For Waterway Landing State Issues Code Purple Alert Smoke Blows Inland Smoke Remains A Problem During July 4th |
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514 Comments 
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Lower humidity and gusty winds help expand the Evans Road wildfire for the first time in two weeks.
The fire, now in it's 34 day, covers a total of 41,355 acres in Hyde, Washington, and Tyrrell counties.
The NC Forest Service says peat soil continues to burn down to an average depth of three feet, making the fire extremely difficult to extinguish.
With the increased fire activity, foresters warn that smoke can reduce visibility of area highways.
Officials say the fire will continue to spew smoke through the weekend, creating unhealthy air in places around Elizabeth City. Some unhealthy air could spread as far as Kill Devil Hills.
The state Division of Air Quality encourages people to limit prolonged outdoors activity. People who are sensitive to air pollution should avoid all physical activity outdoors in areas most affected by the smoke.
The forest service says 333 people are still assisting in trying to put the fire out.
Tuesday's Update
Today mark one month that the Evans Road wildfire has been burning in Hyde, Tyrrell & Washington counties.
The wildfire that has burned more than 41,000 acres remains inside containment lines, but a spokesman says it still could burn a long time.
North Carolina Forest Service spokesman David Brown said Monday
the fire remains at 75 percent contained. But without major rainfall, he
said "there's really not an end in sight."
The forest service says the fire continues to burn in peat deposits underground in some places as far as 3 feet deep. Firefighters are trying to keep the edges soaked by pumping water into canals and ditches.
Monday's Story
The Evans Road wildfire is now in its 30th day as firefighters continue to battle to blaze.
The size of the fire hasn't changed in two weeks, but 332 personnel continue to battle the blaze in Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties.
The fire remains at 75% contains and this weekend strong winds caused some flareups in several areas.
A Code Red or Code Purple air quality alert is likely Tuesday for Camden, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank and Tyrrell counties.
Friday's Story
It will be another smoky weekend at the beach.
The Division of Air Quality says Code Red or Code Purple conditions will exist through Monday for Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans Tyrrell and Washington counties.
The Evans Road wildfire in Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties, and second fire in the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia are blanketing much of the coastal region with heavy smoke.
The big fire is now in it's 27th day, and remains 75% contained.
Air quality experts warn people who are sensitive to air pollution should avoid all physical outdoor activity.
Click here to view the latest smoke forecast map
Wednesday's Update
Some residents of Eastern Carolina can expect yet another smoky day Wednesday, thanks to two wildfires still burning.
Tuesday winds will blow out of the west, pushing the smoke plumes to the east. The N.C. Division of Air Quality says Code Red or Code Purple conditions are likely in Hyde, Tyrrell, Dare, Pasquotank, Camden and Currituck counties.
Areas that may see some smoke inundation and elevated particle pollution in the Code Orange are Washington, Perquimans and Gates counties.
The Evans Road fire is now in its 24th day. The fire remains 75% contained, with 273 people assisting in putting that blaze out.
The fire hasn't damaged any homes, but has destroyed three unoccupied hunting cabins.
The second fire is burning in the Dismal Swamp, just above the North Carolina-Virginia state line.
Click here to view the June 25th smoke forecast map
Monday's Story
Air quality officials issued an air pollution advisory for the coastal regions of the state due to the smoke from a massive wildfire that has been burning for 23 days now.
Tuesday 273 firefighters and forestry officials were assisting in putting out the fire that has burned more than 41,000 acres.
The fire is still 75 percent contained.
To help put out the fire, large volume water pumps are being used. Water is pulled from various lakes and rivers and is pumped into land around the fire perimeter. Forestry officials say rain over the weekend helped relieve the fire a little.
The maximum amount of rainfall recorded from the weekend was only two inches. Fire officials say it will be months before the fire is out.
Click here to view the third week of stories on the fire.
Latest Comments
To Dave in Greenville: The ground is actually what is burning now. The soil in the area is peat. It will burn until drowned by water or it burns down to the layer of clay below it. This is many feet below the peat in most of the area. If we don't get some serious rain, we are in for the long haul. It takes a long time to drown it using pumps to pump water from the lakes and canals, we're talking vast acres here.
[ Report Abuse ]
This comment is for William on June 22nd. I work for NCDOT and I went down to help June 14th and stayed June 22nd, I dont know where you got your information of a salad and 2 shrimp from but, when I was there they fed us very good! We had 3 square meals a day. I hate I just now saw it so I could respond, but I think, you may have got some info wrong!!! The forestry service has done an excellent job on the food and the fire. Also, we had guys from SC, GA, KT, and TE who left their families for 14days to come help out. My hats off to all that have been and still are there fighting weather it be cooking, cleaning, mechanicing, suprivising, fighting on the front line, or sitting at a desk. Keep up the good work
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The way I see it is if the fire continues to burn, there will eventually be no more trees and it will eventually die out.
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