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State forest service issues a warning after NCWRC controlled burn got out of control, sends $350,000 bill

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published July 26, 2023 at 6:54 AM EDT
The wildfire at the Green Swamp Game Land in Supply is causing smoke, road closures and air quality issues but progress is being made in the effort to contain it and put the fire out.
North Carolina Forest Service photo
File: The wildfire at the Green Swamp Game Land in Supply caused smoke, road closures and air quality issues.

The NC Forest Service has issued a warning to NC Wildlife Resources Commission Regional Forester Ken Shugart after a prescribed burn grew out of control last month, and ordered his organization to reimburse to cost of putting it out.

The Pulp Road Fire in the Green Swamp Nature Preserve in southeastern North Carolina burned more than 15,000 acres. It started as a prescribed burn on June 13 by NC Wildlife Resources Commission, but quickly grew out of control.

It took around two weeks to full contain the fire.

Forest service officials say in addition to the warning ticket, the NCWRC must reimburse the NCFS $350,000 for the cost they incurred to help control the fire.

NCWRC will also have to review the prescribed burn to see if there are areas of improvement.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
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