Elan Vacations

Columbia, NC Fires

Smoke is still spread out across the sky along the coastal areas of North Carolina. The fire which has been burning since June 1^st started in Columbia, NC. So far it has only been burning on private land and in the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

There are approximately 400 personnel on the scene from various agencies helping to get the blaze under control. The effort is being led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Carolina Forest Service. Local fire departments along with fire departments from across the state have joined in to help battle the blaze. In addition, personnel and equipment has also been arriving from other states, including Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee along with some help from federal agencies.

One major problem that the fire fighters have been encountering is the abundance of peat soil. This type of soil allows the fire to burn underground, making it more difficult to contain the fire. Due to the peat soil, officials expect the fire to smoulder for weeks. At the beginning of the week, more than 35,000 acres had been burned by the fire.

With all the smoke in the air, it is best to limit the time you spend outdoors. Try to limit your exposure to the smoke as much as possible, until it has all cleared up.

Labels: Columbia Fires

posted by Blog Administrator @ 10:00 AM