Forest Service crews are keeping a close watch on the remains of the Crusoe Island wildfire that threatened a number of homes Tuesday.
The N.C. Forest Service said that the fire is 100 percent contained this morning (Wednesday) but NCFS personnel are monitoring the blaze. It was contained at 343 acres Tuesday evening.
Eleven different wildfires in Columbus County were listed by the NCFS Tuesday, according to the agency’s website, with the Crusoe fire being the largest. Air assets and heavy equipment were pulled from a large wildfire on the New Hanover-Pender line to combat the blaze here. The fire threatened a number of homes and buildings at the end of Crusoe Island Road. Old Dock firefighters and other personnel were staged near the threatened structures until the threat was reduce by wind shift and air suppression.
The fire threatened to move into the Green Swamp Preserve, but firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it moved too far into the wild area. An estimate of damages to several pine plantations was not immediately available.
Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman said he did not have specifics on the Crusoe fire, but county departments have been busy since the burn ban went into effect Friday. The county enforces burning rules within 100 feet of a structure, with the NCFS having jurisdiction over anything past 100 feet.
At least one citation has been issued by the state so far after a burn barrel caused a fire near Tabor City, Blackman said.
“Generally we don’t start issuing citations until 48 hours after the ban is announced,” he explained. “As of 8 a.m. Sunday morning, there will be no more warnings. We are writing tickets.”
There is no real excuse for not knowing about the bans, Blackman said, although people still claim they did not know the bans were in place.
“Between social media, the news, and everywhere else, the word is out there,” he said. “This is a dangerous situation, and we are issuing citations now. We try not to double up on people – if the Forest Service writes them a ticket, it’s a fine and court costs. If we do it, it’s just a fine. It all depends on the size and circumstances.
“Just don’t burn anything outside right now. It’s too dry, and it’s going to be like this until we get some significant rain.”
