By Lauren King
The Virginian-Pilot
HYDE COUNTY, N.C. — Aircraft and firefighters working to contain a wildfire will force the closure of U.S. 264 in northeastern North Carolina for most of the day.
The closure was expected to go into effect at 9 a.m. Sunday and continue into the early evening, according to a news release from the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
This fire, which was first spotted Monday in Hyde County at the Dare County line, is now 13,773 acres and 48 percent contained, according to the news release issued late Saturday night. Known as the Whipping Creek Road fire, it began on private property south of the Dare Bombing Range and the Alligator National Wildlife refuge, according to the wildlife service.
The fire has since moved into the refuge and bombing range.
Storms have helped contain the fire and there is a period of “unsettled weather” forecast for the coming week, which is a good opportunity for firefighters to further contain the blaze, the news release said.
Fire managers have contracted two CL-415 Super Scoopers from Minnesota and they will be working on the northeastern fire perimeter Sunday morning. They will drop water scooped from the Alligator River throughout the day and are expected to deliver 2,200 gallons of water to the fire every six minutes, according to the wildlife refuge.
Some of these drops will occur adjacent to U.S. 264, which will reopen around dusk after air tanker runs have ceased.
Motorists can check the highway’s travel status online.
Copyright 2016 The Virginian-Pilot