Emergency officials are cautioning against any form of outdoor burning as fire conditions reached extreme levels today, with little or no improvement before at least Friday.
The National Weather Service said dry, windy conditions with higher than usual temperatures will continue until a front crosses the area Friday. Currently, Whiteville has gone 16 days without measurable rainfall.
A statewide burn ban remains in effect. The largest first in the state, the Rosindale fire on the Bladen-Columbus line, is 75 percent contained. A sudden fire in Avery County today is threatening homes and is expected to top 1,000 acres by tonight, according to the Forest Service. Heavy smoke from wildfires in South Carolin and Georgia are expected to spread across the region Thursday.
Any wildfire is likely to quickly get out of control and spread due to the extreme drought conditions prevalent across the region. The N.C. Drought Monitor will be released tomorrow, and is expected to reported still-worsening conditions throughout the state.
