Sunday's Story

Air quality officials again remain concerned about air pollution from the wildfires and have issued an advisory.

Residents of coastal communities roughly east of Edenton, Elizabeth City and Belhaven could experience unhealthy air quality depending on wind directions. (See the updated smoke map above.)

Wildfires at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and the Dismal Swamp are blanketing many coastal communities with heavy smoke that could contain high levels of particle pollution. Air quality monitors have measured very unhealthy air pollution levels in areas downwind of the fires.

Winds will average westerly Tuesday, blowing the smoke plumes to the east. Areas most likely to see smoke inundation and experience particle pollution in the Code Red or Code Purple are Hyde, Tyrrell, eastern Washington, Dare, extreme eastern Gates, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden and Currituck counties and areas along the Outer Banks from Ocracoke Inlet up to Virginia. Areas that may see some smoke inundation and elevated particle pollution in the Code Orange are eastern Gates county, Perquimans county, central Washington county, and the western tip of Hyde County.

The forecast means people who are sensitive to air pollution should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Sensitive groups include the older adults and children; people with heart conditions and respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema; and people who work or exercise outdoors. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

Air pollution levels that people experience will depend on wind directions that can be variable. So all residents of coastal regions north of the Pamlico Sound should be aware of weather conditions and be prepared for smoke and poor air quality. Outdoor burning is discouraged in areas covered by Code Orange, Red or Purple forecasts.

Saturday's Update

Ponzer, NC (WITN) - Foresters battling the massive wildfire in three counties say it will take a major rain event, such as a tropical storm, to significantly reduce the amount of fire and smoke.

Saturday the fire reached its 21st day and remains at 41,060 acres. The N.C. Forest Service says while the fire is 75% contained, vegetation within those containment lines continue to burn.

Foresters say between .02 and .29 inches of rain fell over the fire Saturday afternoon and it did reduce some fire activity.

There are 345 people assisting in fire fighting operations.

Friday's Update

Air pollution from the Evans Road fire continues to be a concern for Eastern Carolina.

The fire is now in it's 20th day and is now 75% contained.

The Division of Air Quality says Code Red and Code Purple conditions are like for Tyrell, Hyde, Currituck, Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, eastern Chowan, eastern Gates and northern Dare counties.

Areas likely to see Code Orange Saturday are western Gates, western Chowan, western Washington and southern Dare counties.

There was some rain in the fire area Friday, but officials say it will take a major moisture event such as a tropical storm to significantly reduce the smoke and fire.

Thursday's Update

Costs continue to rise as hundred of firefighters battle a 19 day-old fire in Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

The N.C. Forest Service says costs to suppress the fire are now at $4,927.340. There are 342 people assigned to the fire, down from 570 last week.

The fire has burned 41,060 acres and remains 70% contained.

The Division of Air Quality predicts that Friday will bring Code Purple or Code Red conditions for those in Tyrrell, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Camden and Currituck counties. People in Gates, Washington and Perquimans counties may see elevated smoke levels.

It's the seventh straight day that the state has issued Code Purple alerts because of the wildfire. Monitoring stations have seen some of the highest air pollution levels ever recorded in the state because of the fire.

The forecast means people who are sensitive to air pollution should avoid all physical activity outdoors. That includes older adults and children; people with heart conditions and respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema; and people who work or exercise outdoors. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

Foresters say the fire could burn for another month.

Wednesday Update

State air quality experts say to expect another day or Code Red or Code Purple conditions on Thursday.

The wildfire burning in Hyde, Tyrrell & Washington counties, plus another in the Dismal Swamp are blanketing many communities here on the coast with smoke.

If you live in Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans or Tyrrell counties, the Division of Air Quality says you can expect Code Red or Purple conditions on Thursday. That means people who are sensitive to air pollution should avoid all physical activity outdoors.

In addition, residents could experience Code Orange conditions – or unhealthy for sensitive groups – in Currituck and Washington counties.
Sensitive groups in those counties should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

Firefighters say there has been little change in the Evans Road wildfire since Tuesday night. The size of the fire remains at 41,060 acres, or 64 square miles.

A burn ban that began June 6th still remains in effect for Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

Tuesday's Story

Firefighters say they are gaining ground on the Evans Road wildfire. They now have 70% of the fire contained, up from 60% the day before.

But the smoke from the fire continues to be a problem for coastal residents. The Division of Air Quality says Code Red or Purple conditions will remain through Wednesday.

Those in Camden, Carteret, Currituck, dare, Hyde, Pasquotank and Tyrrell counties will experience unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality.

Code Orange conditions will be in effect for Beaufort, Chowan, Craven Gates, Pamlico, Perquimans and Washington counties.

It's the 17th day of the fire which has burned more than 41,000 acres in Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

The number of firefighters working the blaze in three counties stood at 335 on Tuesday, down from a high of 570 last week.

Foresters are using 35 large volume pumps, capable of putting out 92-thousand gallons per minute to literally flood the peat soil that's on fire.

The pumping operation runs 24-hours a day and firefighters say after one area in flooded, the pumps are moved to a new area to repeat the cycle.

Monday's Story

The state has issued another air pollution advisory for coastal regions as smoke from two wildfires continues to drift downwind.

The largest of those is the Evans Road wildfire that's been burning for 16 days. The other is in the Dismal Swamp, just inside Virginia.

The Division of Air Quality warns residents east of Highway 17, from Morehead City to the Virginia state line, could experience unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality.

Code Red or Purple conditions are possible again Tuesday for those living in Carteret, Chowan, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pamlico, Perquimans and Pasquotank counties.

In Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Craven, Currituck, Hertford, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington counties residents could experience Code Orange conditions.

Residents of Washington County did get some good news Monday. The county lifted an evacuation order for Shore Drive. That area was evacuated on June 3rd when the fire broke through containment lines.

State foresters say they're making progress on containing a massive wildfire that's been burning for 16 days now.

The N.C. Forest Service says it's managed to contain 60% of the fire, while its size has not increased since Friday.

It's estimated that another five miles of fire containment lines still needs to be built.

The National Weather Service says a dense smoke advisory remains in effect until 5:00 a.m. Tuesday for Tyrrell County and mainland Hyde & Dare counties.

Click here to view the first week of stories on the fire.