Fire update

With apologies to the anonymous reader, who asked for information regarding the fire on the mainland of Hyde County waaay back on Tuesday 6/3, I'm finally getting around to providing some info.

It was very hazy on the island yesterday, and I could smell the smoke while attending the OPS porch talk (more on that one in another blog). That's pretty amazing, because my nose doesn't work quite right and I don't smell many things, especially bad odors. So if I could pick up the scent, it must have been really strong!



Here's the latest update I have on the fire, from the OCBA meeting last night:
- there are approximately 63 square miles burning, in mainland Hyde County near the communities of Ponzer and New Lake (about 10 miles north of the IntraCoastal Waterway bridge you cross just before getting to Belhaven)
- most of the affected area is on private, undeveloped land near the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
- although no structures have been threatened yet, some families have evacuated their homes (shelters have been setup for these folks)
- the fire is only about 40% contained and is spreading northeast towards highway 94
- there are about 400 fire personnel in the area working to fight the blaze
- no mainland roads have been closed, but traffic has been slowed as a result of reduced visibility due to the smoke; there have been school delays related to these driving challenges
- health alerts have been posted, recommending caution for people who suffer from asthma or allergies

All of the above applies primarily to mainland Hyde County, although effects have also been reported in Dare County and north into Virginia. At the OCBA meeting, Clayton said that the last time he drove over the Bonner Bridge, cars were moving very slowly and, when he reached the highest point of the span, he could not see the water below through the smoke. There has been little to no impact on the island, other than haziness and the occasional smoky smell.

You can get more information and keep up with the situation as it progresses at the Incident Information System site which tracks incidents all over the country; this one is called the "Evans Road Wildland Fire".