Firefighters took a step forward this week in controlling North Carolina's wildfires. Forestry officials say the blaze in Dare County was fully contained Monday night. But Division of Forest Resources spokesman Chris Carlson says firefighters still face the daunting task of putting it out.
Chris Carlson: "There are some areas within the interior that are just too far to get water to, so they may continue to smolder for a while. The peat soil is deep, so the only thing that we can do is monitor it and wait for Mother Nature itself to put it out with lots of rain."
The fire has burned about 46,000 acres since lightning sparked it nearly two months ago. Crews are still battling other fires in Pender, Bladen and Sampson Counties. The wildfire on the Holly Shelter Game Land now covers 21,000 acres and has prompted at least 19 families to evacuate their homes. Much of North Carolina's coastal plain is under a severe drought, with a smoke advisory and a burning ban in place.