Clayton homes evacuated due to fire

Authorities temporarily evacuated about 20 homes in the Hunter’s Way subdivision at the 800 block of Lee Road when a fire broke out in a nearby wooded area Saturday afternoon, Johnston County dispatchers said.

The fire occurred in a field across from the subdivision, witnesses said. It took firefighters and the forestry service four hours to extinguish the blaze, said Chris Ellington of the Cleveland Fire Department.

By 7 p.m. residents were allowed to return to their homes.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.