Onslow County wildfire about 75 percent contained
Firefighters hope that cooler, rainier weather will help them fully contain a massive wildfire around Camp Lejeune in the next several days.
Posted — UpdatedLejeune officials said that about 10,500 acres had burned, but the fire was 75 percent contained by Saturday evening.
About 117 personnel with the North Carolina Fire Service, Marines and Onslow County Emergency Services were fighting the blaze. They planned to use tractors and remove trees to establish control lines around the perimeter of the fire.
Authorities cautioned motorists that scattered smoke was still causing visibility problems, especially around the intersection of N.C. Highway 210 and U.S. Highway 17 and south of the intersection of U.S. 17 and N.C. Highway 172.
Three Onslow County schools were closed Friday because they were close to hot spots. Hundreds of people were evacuated from homes Thursday.
No injuries or damage to private structures have been reported.
Lejeune officials said the cause of the fire remained under investigation. It has been speculated that the fire started during a training exercise at a Lejeune firing range.
The started on Camp Lejeune last Saturday and flared up last Thursday, spreading onto private lands.
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