Fire officials have closed N.C. 211 between Bolton and the Brunswick County line due to the Pulp Road fire in the Green Swamp.
The fire has spread to 11,500 acres as crews use backfires to eliminate fuel. The northern edge of the fire has reached ground cleared by the Driving Creek fire in 2022.
In an attempt to contain the fire on the southern edge, the Department of Transportation and Forest Service closed N.C.211 from little Macedonia Road to Camp Branch at 2 p.m. Saturday (today). Emergency vehicles will be in that area until at least 9 p.m., Christie Adams of the Forest Service said. Detours are in place on both ends of the closed area.
The closure is expected to be in place through Tuesday.
Smoke caused a Core Red Air Quality alert to be issued for Brunswick County today. Several events in Bolton and Lake Waccamaw were cancelled due to ash falling from the smoke clouds.
The Pulp Road Fire began Wednesday as a controlled burn of 2,500 acres in the Green Swamp by the Wildlife Commission and Nature Conservancy. The Green Swamp Preserve is closed until further notice.
