A wildfire in Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in rural eastern North Carolina grew to nearly 40,000 acres as of June 11. Although several small communities in the area have been evacuated, no homes have been damaged and no major injuries have been reported. A national firefighting team is actively monitoring smoke impacts, which at times limits driving visibility on Highway 64 in eastern Virginia.

The Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is temporarily closed due to the wildfire activity. For more specific and updated information, including maps and photographs, visit the website.

Photo Credit: USFWS. Evans Road Fire on right approaches Evans Road and adjacent plowed area, known in the fire community as potatoe patches.