Wildfires top $4 million to battle…
by Jeff
WILDFIRE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 6/18/08
The cost of battling a massive eastern North Carolina wildfire has topped $4 million, according to officials. Efforts continued Wednesday to put the blaze out, but firefighters are still awaiting the major rainstorm needed to extinguish the blaze. Fire command center spokesman Bruce MacDonald said about $4.1 million has been spent on the fire that is burning in and around the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, up from $3.8 million Tuesday. MacDonald said firefighters are spraying water on hotspots in the smoldering peat soil. About 350 people were assigned to the fire Wednesday. The fire has burned roughly 41,000 acres in the sparsely populated area of three eastern counties. It remains 70 percent contained.