More People Brought to Battle Robeson County Wildfires

LUMBERTON — State and local officials said they have brought in more than 90 firefighters from throughout the state in recent days to battle a series of wildfires in Robeson County.

Firefighters were working to control about 70 wildfires, some of which started four weeks ago and continue to burn or smolder, according to state officials.

The wildfires, which have ranged in size from a few acres to 200 acres, have not burned any homes or resulted in any serious injuries, authorities said. Most of the fires were smoldering in thick peat soil and were about 70 percent controlled.

Fire officials said they were working hard to keep some of the fires inside the lines of containment.

However, drought conditions have made it difficult for firefighters to contain all the fires.

During the past four weeks the multiple fires, known as the Longbranch/Robeson Complex, have threatened about 600 homes. In some cases, people have been temporarily evacuated from their homes, officials said.