A wildfire in Brunswick County that started Friday, May 2, is the largest of dozens of fires crews are working to contain across North Carolina.
Weekend rains helped with some of the fires, but much of the state still is drier than normal, making fuel more readily available to help wildfires spread.
Here’s the fire situation in the state as of Monday, May 5.
Dry conditions across most of North Carolina have contributed to a busy fire season in Spring 2025. As of Monday, May 5, dozens of fires were burning across the state, including on in Brunswick County that has torched 1,369 acres so far. Here, firefighters work to contain the Black Cove fire in Polk County in March 2025. Blake Wilkey/Gastonia Fire Department and N.C. Forest Service How big is the Brunswick County fire?
What firefighters are calling the Sunset Road Fire near Boiling Spring Lakes in Brunswick County is at 1,369 acres as of Monday morning, according to the N.C. Forest Service, and was 10% contained. At one point, the fire was reported to have burned across 1,500 acres but the Forest Service said Monday more accurate mapping showed it wasn’t quite that large.
The fire spread on Saturday because of dry, windy conditions, the Forest Service said. Some rain on Sunday helped firefighters who have been working with heavy equipment to stop the fire from reaching heavy organic fuels on its west side. Crews have been using fire trucks and water to protest homes on the fire’s east side.
So far, the Forest Service said, no homes have been damaged by the fire. Investigators haven’t yet determined what started it.
Is the Brunswick County fire causing smoke near the N.C. coast?
Smoke and fine particulates from the fire are diminishing air quality in the area.
The air quality forecast for Monday from airnow.gov is a Code Orange for Brunswick County. Pender and New Hanover counties, bordering Brunswick, are under a Code Yellow for Monday, meaning quality is moderate, a level below good.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Code Orange means air quality is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, people with diabetes, and other sensitive people should avoid heavy exertion outdoors until the air quality improves.
Despite widespread drought, North Carolina is not under a statewide burn ban as of May 5, 2025. The North Carolina Forest Service says careless debris-burning is the leading cause of wildfires in the state. N.C. Forest Service How many fires are burning across North Carolina?
The N.C. Forest Service’s wildfire map showed 74 fires across the state as of Monday morning. They’re scattered from the coast to the mountains. Some of those may have been contained without the map being updated yet.
Is North Carolina under a statewide burn ban?
No. There was a statewide burn ban in effect starting March 21 but it was lifted on April 2.
Is North Carolina in a drought?
More than 80% of North Carolina is abnormally dry or in moderate or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Is there rain coming?
Isolated storms are expected to develop over the north and east Piedmont Monday afternoon and could spread into the central and northern Coastal Plain, the National Weather Service said.
Forecasters say there is a marginal risk of large hail and damaging winds along with the storms, especially in the east and between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
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