UPDATE: Deep Bay wildfire is now 100 percent contained

The Deep Bay wildfire in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Dare County mainland was 100 percent contained last evening.

The wildfire covered about 50 to 60 acres before it was contained.

Fire crews are remaining on the scene to monitor the area to make sure it stays in containment lines.

Late morning today, an employee of the North Carolina Forest Service driving on U.S. Highway 64 observed smoke  north of the highway and contacted Fairfield Dispatch.  Both the North Carolina Forest Service and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge staff responded to the incident. 

At the time, the fire was approximately 10 acres in size and is located off Deep Bay Road near East Lake on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

By late afternoon, the Deep Bay Fire, as it is being called, has expanded to about 40 acres.

The N.C. Forest Service  responded this morning with a spotter plane, Flextrack, and portable bridge.  The Refuge responded with a second Flextrack and an engine.

Both agencies  are providing initial attack in an effort to contain the fire. 

The fire is currently under the direction of Bert Plante as incident commander.  Plante is the fire management officer for Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.

Also late this afternoon, reinforcements were on the way from Mattamuskeet and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges with two Marshmasters.

These pieces of specialized equipment join the recently ordered Marshmasters  from Alligator River and  the N.C. Forest Service. This brings the total equipment to four Marshmasters, two Flextracks, a spotter plane and an engine.

For more frequent updates on this fire, visit www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/deepbayfire.html or follow the fire on Facebook at USFWS in North Carolina.