The N.C. Forest Service Incident Management Team has emphasized that its main objective is to ensure “public and firefighter safety” in managing the Sunset Road Fire in Brunswick County. As authorities prepare to take command, they caution that “wildland fire engines and large equipment continue to be on roads in the fire area and traveling to and from assignments,” urging travelers to exercise caution on the NC Highway 87 corridor around Boiling Spring Lakes.
The fire, which began to spread on Saturday, is being actively fought by firefighters who are monitoring for further spread. It is burning in Boiling Spring Lakes but, thus far, no homes have been destroyed. Recently, “scattered showers and roughly six-tenths of accumulated rainfall” were reported, potentially aiding efforts to control the blaze. However, deep smoldering in organic soil and possible flame resurgence remain concerns.
The fire has affected approximately 1,500 acres and is currently 10% contained. Crews have been engaged in “water handling and dozer operations” to establish and reinforce fire lines, with “aircraft from the N.C. Forest Service aviation fleet” assisting with water drops. Despite these efforts, erratic winds and dry conditions continue to complicate containment.
An air quality alert, denoted as Code Orange, is in effect in Brunswick County through midnight Sunday, with additional air quality data available online. While roads in and around Boiling Spring Lakes have reopened, smoky conditions persist. Authorities recommend caution to “motorists traveling around the area as smoky conditions persist and may linger for days.”
Evacuation orders have been lifted, though the emergency shelter at South Brunswick High School remains available. Updates regarding closures and shelter information are accessible on the Brunswick County website.
The public is reminded that drones are unauthorized near wildfires. Drones can “compromise the safety of pilots and interfere with firefighting efforts.” As such, they should be kept away from the Sunset Road Fire area.
