A woods fire on Sunday near Roseboro Elementary School threatened homes, but was quickly contained before it could cause any property damage.
“The fire came from a debris pile that was being burned but with the wind and dry conditions [Sunday], an ember sparked the dry leaves in the woods on fire,” explained Sampson County Ranger Cody Ake with the NC Forest Service.
The forest service assisted Roseboro Fire Department with the fire, which was on Butler Island Road.
“We were able to quickly contain the fire behind a home, stopping it from spreading further east and protecting nearby property,” Roseboro Fire Chief Kenneth Lee Coleman Jr. posted on social media. “Due to the fire being deep in the woods, NC Forest Service responded and took over suppression efforts. They conducted a back burn to contain the fire — which did create a large amount of smoke, but is often the most effective way to stop it.”
The chief further stated that residents in the area may see or smell smoke through the day on Monday, and he wanted them to know this fire was the reason.
“We appreciate the assistance from NC Forest Service and the continued support from our community,” Coleman added.
The NC Forest Service reminds county citizens that fire danger is high at this time of year, especially during the afternoon and evening hours.
“Fires can start almost immediately and easily from all causes,” a social media post from the forest service reads. “Fires can spread rapidly and intensify quickly. Spot fires can be a constant danger. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.”
Ake advised that citizens should only burn in a well-maintained area where no grass or leaves are present or nearby. “Digging a hole in the ground and burning wood, leaves and twigs is great as well,” he said. “The main tip to prevent fires is to not burn during dry windy conditions. Check the weather before burning to see if there is a change in the wind.”
Check the NC Forest Service website for the latest news on conditions for burning and call the local NC Forest Service office with any questions. “We can give advice and more info if there is a better day to burn,” Ake said.
The Sampson County office of the NC Forest Service can be reached at 910-592-4515.
Current fire danger conditions can be checked at: https://climate.ncsu.edu/fire/.
Up-to-date weather information can be found at weather.gov.