Brush Fire Spreads to Abandoned Zebulon Home Amid Dry, Windy Conditions

A wind-driven brush fire swept through a wooded area and engulfed an abandoned house at the 2400 block of Rosinburg Road in Zebulon last Wednesday, rekindling repeatedly overnight and forcing crews to return Thursday morning to finish the fight.

The Wake County Sheriff's Office discovered the blaze and alerted emergency crews Wednesday afternoon. The Zebulon Fire Department arrived at about 5:05 p.m. to find flames already pushing through the woods and into the empty, abandoned structure on the property. No injuries were reported.

The fire refused to die quietly. It rekindled several times through the night and into Thursday morning, drawing firefighters back to the scene to extinguish hot spots and ensure the blaze was fully suppressed. WRAL's Sky 5 helicopter flew over the scene and captured large flames engulfing the area. Hopkins, Pilot and Ferrells fire departments joined the Zebulon Fire Department on scene, along with the N.C. Forest Service. The Wake County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause.

Zebulon Fire Chief Chris Perry said the fire appeared to have started from burning trash. He described how current conditions turned what might otherwise have been a manageable situation into a rapid, stubborn blaze. "Windy conditions, dry conditions," Perry said. "It spreads so quickly and much more quickly than what we're used to seeing."

North Carolina is in a drought, and Perry said the combination of dry ground and wind is pushing fire behavior beyond what the region typically experiences. Though rain expected Thursday offered some relief, Perry urged people to avoid the area through the weekend. "You just got to be really, really careful," he said. "We get these rains, that certainly helps, for sure. But we've got to be really, really careful, because the ground content is just so dry right now."

Perry extended his warning to everyday outdoor activities. He advised residents to keep grills at least 10 feet from homes, decks and other structures, keep water nearby, and ensure all fires are completely extinguished before walking away. Anyone using a burn barrel should soak the surrounding ground and have water readily available. His message on burning altogether: "Burning is just not recommended."

The Rosinburg Road fire was one of two brush fires Wake County crews investigated that same Wednesday. A separate large brush fire broke out in Vance County along Thomas Road near Kerr Lake in the Williamsboro community north of Henderson. Anyone who spots smoke or fire should call 911 immediately.