The coordination of several agencies led to what Wilmington Fire Chief Buddy Martinette considers a successful containment of the fire that broke out yesterday in the Pine Valley neighborhood.
WHQR’s Sara Wood reports Martinette expressed his gratitude for the courageous efforts today at a press conference but he also advised residents to be vigilant as fire season approaches.
As the Wilmington Fire Department continues to monitor the area, officials say residents will continue to experience smoke until the region receives significant rainfall. North Carolina Forest Service Ranger Bill Walker says with drought conditions, the best the region can hope for is rain.
“Everybody remembers last year, fire season just never ended until about October. We’re expecting it to continue again the same this year, we will take any rain we can possibly can, but the long-range forecasts really don’t have any significant rainfall scheduled.”
Walker urges homeowners to take precautions by clearing pine straw away from homes and gutters, and avoid burning at any cost, taking debris instead to the dump. The Pine Valley fire burned 50 acres with no reports of injuries or structural damage. Officials say the fire was caused by a charcoal camp grill in nearby woods.