The fire off Highway 211 near Bolton, also known as the Driving Creek Fire, has been about 75% contained, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
Shallotte resident Paul Baker was in the area for work. “It’s been pretty smoky the past few days but it’s died down a lot today (Wednesday).
The brush fire that forced officials to shut down a portion of Highway 211 earlier this week has now reopened as of about 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The North Carolina Forest Service’s Incident Commander Shane Hardee said there was active fire headed toward the highway on Tuesday.
Low visibility was partly to blame for the initial closure of the major thoroughfare. “Once we got the fire contained, then it was a matter of smoke impacts, and the safety of our fire crews having to go up and down the road,” said Hardee.