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NEW BERN, N.C., May 5, 2025 – Containment efforts on the Black Swamp Fire have remained, with the fire holding at 950 acres and 60% containment. The USDA Forest Service is being supported with personnel from North Carolina Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and the National Park Service to help manage the Black Swamp Fire in Croatan National Forest. 

Typically, this area of the forest receives about 32 inches of rain over a 6 month period. However, only 16 inches have fallen during this span of time. The Black Swamp Fire has not benefited from the limited rainfall, and drying conditions have increased fire behavior. The fire recently received 0.68 inches of rain yesterday, which helped refill nearby water systems used for suppression. Forecasted scattered showers this week will also aid in firefighting operations. Fire crews have been preparing the area for continued suppression, including building earthen dams and improving pump systems to deliver additional water to the fire line. Yesterday, crews were able to rehab heavy equipment and get ready for the next operational period. 

Closures remain in effect for Black Swamp Road, the Black Swamp OHV area, Great Lake Boating Access Area and Sheep Ridge Wilderness Area, as well as portions of Great Lake Road, Seaborn Road and Holston Hunter Road. 

Smoke from the fire can cause limited visibility and may impact local air quality. Please drive slowly and use caution on roads where smoke may be settling. Check for air quality alerts at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/ or https://fire.airnow.gov.

For the latest wildfire updates, follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook at U.S. Forest Service - National Forests in North Carolina or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina