Camp Lejeune Fire Department and Forestry Service Continue to Monitor and Contain 600-acre Wildfire

Ten units from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s Fire Department and Forestry Service are using plows and brush trucks to expand fire breaks to contain a slow-moving wildfire that continues to burn in the northwestern end of the base’s Greater Sandy Run Training Area along Hwy 50.

The fire originated at 2 p.m. Monday near SR9, a company battle range typically used for fire and maneuver as well as machine gun training. During peak operations yesterday, 14 emergency response agencies from across Onslow County and three from base were committed to fighting the blaze with a total of 35 emergency services units and 110 personnel. An incident command post was temporarily set up at the Haws Run Volunteer Fire Department to coordinate the joint operation which lasted about eight hours until officials determined enough progress had been made for county units to return to their stations.

Drone operators from base completed an aerial survey earlier today and from that footage, officials estimate the fire has burned about 600 acres of wildland and is about 50% contained. The fire department said weather has been favorable enough to continue plow operations for the next several hours and it plans to monitor the fire overnight to respond to any changing conditions.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, installation officials say there have been no recent prescribed fire activities in the area and no training operations have occurred locally since April 4.