Hundreds of brush fires burn across North Carolina Saturday; several fires still burning Sunday

Crews continue to work to contain several large brush fires burning across the state Sunday. 

From the mountains to the coast, fires burned hundreds of acres Saturday. According to the North Carolina Forest Service map, there were more than 250 fires burning across the state on Saturday. 

While the brush fire threat isn’t as high as it was Saturday, the humidity is still very low. So it’s best not to burn Sunday.

Several fires are still burning across North Carolina Sunday. As of 8:15 a.m. Sunday, the map shows are six active wildfires in the state.

Evacuation orders remain in place for parts of western North Carolina Sunday morning.

The largest brush fire is still the 400-acre fire burning near Tryon in Polk County. An emergency shelter has been set up for people escaping the fire.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said multiple fire departments are working to get the fire under control.

There are also two active wildfires burning in Harnett County Sunday morning. A 60-acre wildfire is burning near N.C. Highway 24 in Cameron; the fire is 0% contained, as of 8:15 a.m. Another wildfire in the county, a 50-acre fire off of U.S. Highway 401 near Bunnlevel, is 90% contained.

More than 250 fires burn in NC Saturday

Winds gusting up to 20 mph, low humidity and abnormally dry conditions, paired with temperatures that reached the mid-70s on Saturday afternoon, drove brush fires across the state.

Durham firefighters battled a brush fire on Erwin Road Saturday afternoon. Resident Bea Miller said a transformer exploded, sparking a fire that burned for about an hour.

“It was just scary to see the flames continue up the hill,” Miller said.

 A Duke Energy spokesman said almost 300 customers were without power for hours.

On Saturday in Harnett County, crews responded to several grass fires, including one near Western Harnett Middle School.

In Moore County, a fire burned in the woods outside Pinebluff. Drone video showed about 30 acres near Lizzie Jeter Lane in Cameron engulfed
in smoke and flames.

In Cumberland County, heavy, black smoke was visible during the afternoon from a fire along Interstate 95.

A fire in Polk County forced evacuations in the Tryon area Saturday. To the east, a fire was burning in Brunswick County west of U.S. Highway 17 near Winnabow.

Much of North Carolina was under a Red Flag Warning on Saturday, indicating a higher-than-usual threat for brush fires. Winds are expected to die down as a cold front arrives, and the fire danger will lessen.

But there is little rain in the forecast and moderate drought conditions remain across the state.