The North Carolina Forest Service Incident Management Team is prioritizing public and firefighter safety as they manage the Sunset Road Fire in Brunswick County. Motorists are advised to be cautious due to the presence of wildland fire engines and large equipment on roads near the fire area.
As of now, the fire has affected 1,331 acres and is 15% contained. On Tuesday, a drone flight was conducted over the northern portion of the fire to identify hot spots. Although firefighters have gained confidence in controlling the southern tip of the fire, more heat signatures were detected in the north than expected, keeping containment levels unchanged. The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.
The N.C. Forest Service has deployed various equipment to combat the fire: six tractor plow units with 10 personnel, 10 Type 6 engines with 22 personnel, one full track with two personnel, and six UTVs equipped for fire suppression with 12 personnel. Additionally, two water tenders are being used to refill water handling equipment with assistance from Boiling Spring Lakes Fire Department and other cooperators including local police and emergency management services.
The Sunset Road Fire began on May 2 in Boiling Spring Lakes but has not destroyed any homes so far. Containment percentage reflects areas where no further action is needed by firefighters to prevent escape risk.
Weather conditions indicate moisture returning this week with a stalled front moving into the region. A sea breeze expected around noon today may increase wind gusts this afternoon. The area continues to experience moderate drought conditions, with potential scattered showers and thunderstorms starting Wednesday night through the weekend. The fire is creeping and smoldering, producing visible smoke within its vicinity.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is enforced from ground level up to 3,000 feet until further notice. More details can be found at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_5540. It is illegal to fly drones within a TFR zone as it poses risks to pilots and disrupts firefighting operations.
