T. J. ROYAL
Although Edgecombe County and most of Eastern North Carolina is out of drought conditions thanks to heavy March rainfall, the possibility of a brush fire is ever present.
North Carolina Forest Service Ranger Kamm Bunting said there have been four different brush fires in Edgecombe County since April 4, the latest of which was Friday afternoon in the Conetoe area.
Bunting said that Conetoe Volunteer Fire Department was the first to respond to that 2:30 p.m. fire, with assistance from South Edgecombe Volunteer Fire Department as well as the Princeville Volunteer Fire Department.
He said it took around an hour to contain the blaze, which started as a resident's brush pile fire but ended up charring seven acres and threatening one residence on Mildred Church Road, near Ellis Road.
There was "pretty bad smoke" from that fire, making it appear to be worse than it was, with only "one (residence) that was particularly threatened," Bunting said.
And the latest batch of fires have come after 7.7 inches of rain was dumped in Tarboro during the month of March, according to the National Weather Service.
The 12 inches of rainfall for Tarboro so far this year is "around average" for April, said National Weather Service meteorologist Barrett Smith.
That recent rainfall has brought much of Eastern North Carolina, including Edgecombe, out of the moderate to severe drought conditions it had experienced throughout the summers of 2007 and 2008, according to the United States Drought Monitor.
But even with the soaking, beneficial rainfall, Bunting said the gusty wind conditions, with gusts up to 30 mph, and low humidity Friday contributed to the fire break out that broke out in Conetoe.
He said that two other fires occurred in Edgecombe County on Thursday, near Saw Mill Road in the West Edgecombe area and near the Daniel Street Extension area in Tarboro. The other fire occurred April 4 in Conetoe near Chinquapin Road.
Edgecombe County Fire Marshal Butch Beach was relieved that the fire Friday was put out so quickly by the three volunteer fire departments that responded to the call.
"It was one of those careless moments that liked to got some houses burned down," Beach added.
Beach noted that sometimes, county firefighters are "standing in water (while) fighting fire," because of small limbs, dry pine needles and leaves fueling fires not long after a rain event.
He noted that it is only legal to burn leaves and limbs that are on the property, adding that "carelessness always gets us in trouble" when it comes to burning.
Bunting added that Edgecombe County residents need to remain "smart" about their burning habits, even with the recent rainfall that has helped the area.
