A joint investigation by the law enforcement branch of the North Carolina Forest Service and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office has determined that the cause of the Clemmons Road fire was debris burning. The N.C. Forest Service charged Phillip Jenkins, the individual responsible for accidentally starting the Fire, with a Class 3 Misdemeanor (N.C. General Statute 14-138.1). Fire investigators said Jenkins fully cooperated and admitted to unintentionally allowing his debris burn to escape. A Class 3 misdemeanor may include a fine between $10 and $50, in addition to court costs.
“This is a good example of how easily a debris burn can escape. We are lucky that no one has been injured and no homes have been lost,” said Shane Hardee, Clemmons Road Fire Incident Commander. “People need to remember that you should always be cautious when burning and never burn on dry and windy days.”
The fire, which began on April 19, 2016 in the Bolivia community of Brunswick County, is currently about 1,588 acres. Unfortunately, there was not sufficient rainfall on the fire to extinguish the remaining areas of concern. Therefore, fire managers will remain on the fire for several more days until they are confident that there will be no future threat to the community.
The N.C. Forest Service provides helpful advice for people who burn debris on their website at http://ncforestservice.gov.
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