N.C. widens burning ban as wildfire burns

RALEIGH, N.C., June 12 (UPI) -- North Carolina banned open burning Thursday in 10 counties in the eastern part of the state, where a huge wildfire still blazed in a wildlife refuge.

The order takes effect at noon Friday, The Raleigh News & Observer reported.

The fire in the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge began with a lightning strike on June 1. Hannah Thompson of the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources told The Virginian-Pilot the blaze is hard to contain because it is fueled by peat, soil formed from decayed vegetation.

The peat is as much as 8-feet deep, and the fire could continue to smolder for months, unless the area gets a soaking rain, the report said.

The wildlife refuge includes the extension into North Carolina of the Great Dismal Swamp of Virginia.

The fire has also been exceptionally smoky. On Tuesday, so much smoke from the fire and another in the swamp drifted over Hampton, Va., that 911 operators were overwhelmed by calls from residents who feared their neighborhoods were on fire, The Virginian-Pilot said.