L. Freeman was asking for an update on the Pains Bay Fire, and it has been a while since I updated our Wildfire Today readers on the status of this fire that has been burning since May 5 in a swamp on the North Carolina coast, mostly in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. As far as I know, the fire has not made any spectacular runs in the last week or so. It can take weeks or months to put out a fire in a drought-affected swamp, so firefighters could be in for a long haul.
But I received these recent photos, and could not resist posting them here. They are the first photos I’ve seen of a Type 1 helicopter dipping out of a canal adjacent to a road.
Helicopters with external loads are not supposed to overfly people, so that is one reason the road is closed to the public. That and the firefighters and equipment that are working along the road.
The following information came from Bonnie W. Strawser, Visitor Services Manager, Alligator River/Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges:
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Current Status:
- The acreage of the fire is 25,678 acres and has not increased. This includes an estimated 3711 acres of smoldering peat ground fire.
- Location – Approximately 19 miles south of Manns Harbor, NC
- Warmer, dryer weather continues to hamper control efforts.
- Water is being pumped from canals onto the edges of the burned area, utilizing various types of pumps and sprinklers.
- Containment held steady at 80 percent today. Crews and tractor plow units continue to strengthen existing containment lines.
- Road Closure – US 264 remains closed between Stumpy Point and Engelhard. A large number of engines are working on the roadway to extinguish ground fire. Specialized irrigation equipment and helicopters are operating in close proximity to the roadway. Fire officials determined that these operations created a safety hazard to both firefighters and the public requiring closure of the road. Completing this work along US 264 remains a high priority so that the road can be opened as soon as possible. Attached photos show current operations along US 264 as of 4:00 PM, May 19.
- Flight Restrictions – A Temporary Flight Restriction (#2182) remains in effect
- Date fire started – May 5, 2011 at 3:00 PM
- All fire is located on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service) and the Dare County Range (Department of Defense, US Air Force).
Resources on the Fire:
- 188 personnel
- 11 tractor/plow units and flex-tracks
- 13 type 6 engines.
- Aircraft – 3 helicopters – One Type 1 Sikorsky and 2 Type 3 Bell 206 helicopters
