The Whipping Creek Road Fire is now 13,773 acres in size and 48% contained. Several storm events over the fire have contributed to the subdued fire behavior seen today.
A period of unsettled weather forecast for the coming week represents a good window of opportunity for firefighters to make further progress on containing the fire. To that end, fire managers have contracted two CL-415 Super Scoopers to support fire suppression. The Minnesota- based air ships will start working on the northeastern fire perimeter tomorrow morning and continue with water drops through early Sunday evening. The CL-415s will scoop water from the Alligator River and deliver it to the fire every six minutes. Some of the 2,200 gallon water drops delivered on each run will occur adjacent to US 264.
Due to the presence of these aircraft and support firefighters working near the highway, the highway closure will start at 9:00 a.m. and end in the early evening. The highway will be open at 6:00 a.m. for those travelers wanting to avoid detouring through Columbia, and reopen around dusk after air tanker runs have ceased. Law enforcement will assist with the highway closure. The highway’s travel status can be monitored on NCDOT’s website at http://tims.ncdot.gov/tims/RegionSummary.aspx?re=8.
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