Nearly a month after it began, a wildfire spanning close to 300 acres in Brunswick County is completely contained.
The wildfire near Shallotte
, first reported in July, is 283 acres in size and 100% contained as of Aug. 6, according to a news release from the North Carolina Forest Service. The percent containment represents sections of fire line that do not pose an escape risk without further action from firefighters.Firefighting efforts began after the fire was reported Friday, July 10.
N.C. Forest Service investigators determined the cause of the fire to be a lightning strike from more than a month prior.
"Lightning activity occurred in the area May 28, 2026, resulting in a 'holdover' fire that ignited and smoldered in the duff, undetected until
weather and fuel conditions aligned," the release states. "Lightning holdover fires are wildfires that can remain dormant, like a ‘sleeper,’ typically smoldering underground, not presenting flames."
Though Brunswick residents have seen some rain recently, the release states the prolonged drought and lack of wetting rainfall leads to a greater probability of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes igniting a wildfire.
Extreme high temperatures and heavier fuel dryness are also contributors, the release adds, especially in areas of large dead and deep duff dryness.
Duff, the layer of decomposing organic materials above the mineral soil but just beneath the layer of twigs, needles and leaves, is “ground fuel” for wildfire, the release states. When dried out, duff can burn underground, smoldering, slowly spreading without flames for days, even weeks.
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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: With Brunswick wildfire fully contained, more details emerge on cause
