Wake County Fire Causes Evacuation of 12 Homes

Firefighters evacuated 12 homes late Tuesday afternoon that were threatened by a woods fire near Poole Road in Wake County. The fire did not damage any structures but burned out of control on between 10 and 15 acres.

The fire broke out near the Royal Acres subdivision off Barwell Road at about 4 p.m. Residents were asked to leave their homes while thick smoke made it difficult for firefighters to determine the extent of possible danger. The smoke was setting off smoke alarms in some of the houses.

Debris left over from Hurricane Fran fueled the fire, so officials from the Forest Service used tractors to clear a firebreak through the vegetation to protect surrounding homes.

An aerial search was also conducted in an attempt to spot any further spreading of the fire.