Wildfires burn through North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Firefighters across North Carolina were working Monday to contain and extinguish wildfires bolstered by dry conditions and strong winds.

The fires, which broke out Sunday after a long drought in the state, were most severe in Halifax County, where 18 fires were reported, the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer reported Monday.

Phil Ricks, the Halifax County emergency services director, said one fire in the county was contained Monday after burning through 1,500 to 2,000 acres near the city of Hollister. He said a small fire broke out Monday in Scotland Neck, but firefighters expect the blaze will be comparatively easy to contain.

"I think if we can just get to nightfall, it will be OK," he said.

Meanwhile, fires on the border of Johnston and Harnett counties burned about 350 acres, leading to unconfirmed reports of five destroyed buildings, said Brian Haines, spokesman for the state Division of

Forest Resources.

Jeff Bright, spokesman for Franklin County Emergency Services, said one home and two abandoned buildings in the county were destroyed by Sunday's fires.

Robert Mitchell, assistant chief of the Franklinton Fire Department, said fires in the northwestern part of Franklin County had been contained Monday morning.