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Contact Information: Dana Hodde    828-712-5017    dana.hodde@usda.gov

NEW BERN, N.C., May 6, 2025 – Fire crews are making steady progress on the Black Swamp Fire, which is holding at 950 acres with 60% containment. The USDA Forest Service is working closely with multiple partners, including 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. 

A pump was installed in the canal along Seaborn Road. Repairs were made to Moccasin Lane that will allow crews to move freely through the soft ground with less impact. Engine crews continued efforts to extinguish hot spots and mop up. Agricultural sprinklers and helicopter water drops aided in suppression efforts. Night operations monitored the fire overnight and ran water pumps. Today, excavators are prepping the pump sites to allow firefighters to plug in three new pumps. These will help move water closer to the fire, supporting mop up efforts and reducing fire activity. 

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