The latest: Wildfire in rural Pender County spans 2,000 acres, no homes threatened
The North Carolina Forest Service continues to battle a wildfire in rural Pender County that now spans more than 2,000 acres.
Crews responded to the scene in the Holly Shelter Game Land Wednesday afternoon, reporting a 150-acre blaze. As of Thursday afternoon, roughly 25% of the growing fire was contained.
According to Carrie McCullen, public information officer on site for the North Carolina Forest Service, the fire is contained to the game lands and is not threatening homes or shelters in nearby localities.
The fire remains roughly two miles from N.C. Hwy 50. Smoke — partially camouflaged by cloud cover Thursday — could be seen and smelt in some areas of Hampstead and Holly Ridge, but no roads have been severely impacted.
The fire, dubbed "Juniper Road Two Fire," was reportedly caused by a reignition of a fire in the same area last week.
On Aug. 2, according to Pender County Emergency Management, the North Carolina Forest Service responded to a 10-acre blaze in the game lands that was thought to be started by a lightning strike.
McCullen said the vegetation in the area made it easy for fires to smolder and reignite even after such time had passed.
Fighting against difficult terrain, changing weather patterns, wind gusts, low relative humidity and high heat index, 21 personnel from the North Carolina Forest Service were on site Thursday.
Personnel are manning a dozen tractor plow units, aerial equipment and air tankers as they battle the blaze. Pender County EMS are on site in case medical attention is necessary. McCullen said the greatest threat to personnel on the ground is heat-related injuries. None have been reported as of Thursday afternoon.
It's likely, McCullen added, that wildlife in the area will not be harmed.
The Juniper Road Two Fire was appropriately named as it comes more than a decade after the "Juniper Road Fire" engulfed some 20,000 acres in the game lands in June 2011 after burning for several weeks. It was contained in August and fully extinguished in September of that year, McCullen confirmed.
Look back: Holly Shelter June 2011 wildfire
The Juniper Road Fire forced some Pender County residents to evacuate their homes due to dense smoke and involved more than 100 forestry personnel from across the state.
McCullen said crews could be fighting the ongoing wildfire into the weekend, and the weather could prove harmful or helpful.
The National Weather Service reports a chance for rain Thursday night and Friday, which could aid in efforts to contain the blaze, but wind accompanying such storms could widen its path.
Thursday morning
By Wednesday night, the fire's coverage area had grown to 1,500 acres by nightfall.
As of Wednesday night, the fire is not threatening any homes. Emergency personnel from Pender and Onslow counties are assisting the North Carolina Forest Service in battling the fire and building containment lines.
Crews reported the fire was approximately 14% contained Wednesday night.
The Holly Shelter Game Land consists of almost 50,000 acres of land which is available for hunting half the year and hiking the other half, according to visitnc.com, a website sponsored by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
The fire is under investigation.
Wednesday
A news release at 1 p.m. Wednesday from Pender County said Pender County Emergency Management was assisting the North Carolina Forest Service in battling a 150-acre wildfire in the Holly Shelter Game Land.
By 2 p.m., the fire spanned more than 1,000 acres, according to a news release from Onslow County. The fire is contained to Pender County as of Wednesday afternoon and isn't threatening any homes, the release said.
Onslow County Emergency Services was also on the scene.
Smoke and ash may affect the surrounding areas of Maple Hill, Holly Ridge, Sneads Ferry and other localities in Pender and Onslow counties, officials said.
According to Tammy Proctor, Pender County tourism director and public information officer, crews are monitoring the wind as they attempt to contain the fire. Motorists traveling U.S. Hwy 17 and N.C. Hwy 210 may spot the fire on their drive, Proctor said.
She added while drivers may see or smell smoke, no roads have been closed.
The time the fire began and its cause is uncertain as of Wednesday afternoon, but according to the Onslow County news release, it began sometime Tuesday.
Jamey Cross is the public safety reporter at the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NC Forest Service, emergency crews battle rural Pender County wildfire
