Sampson County fire officials are urging residents not to burn outdoors, due to extremely dry conditions.
According to a Facebook post from Sampson County Emergency Services, the 911 Center received 91 calls between 7 a.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Monday regarding outdoor fires.
“Our local fire departments have been responding around the clock to quickly and safely extinguish these fires, placing significant demand on emergency resources,” the post continues. “For everyone’s safety, please refrain from burning anything outdoors until weather conditions improve. Your cooperation is critical in preventing wildfires and protecting lives and property.”
Clinton Fire Department responded to a fast-moving grass fire on Sunday afternoon that threatened several homes and other structures. Thanks to help from community members and firefighters from Halls Fire Department, as well as the NC Forest Service, the fire was contained and eventually extinguished.
Fire Chief Hagan Thornton said that his department responded to several outdoor fires on Monday and many more over the weekend. “What we are seeing right now is that it’s so dry and windy that fires from a couple of weeks ago are starting back up,” he said. “And that’s going to be a common theme until we get some significant rain.”
There was a 20 percent chance of rain on Wednesday, but even if precipitation does fall, it likely won’t be enough to improve the dry conditions.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were no burn bans in place from the NC Forest Service. Visit www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service for more information on safe burning and wildfire prevention.
For more about the grass fire on Sunday, see Tuesday’s e-edition of The Sampson Independent.