North Carolina Wildfire Threatens Homes

North Carolina officials said a wildfire in Pender County has grown to nearly 30,000 acres and poses a danger to more than 2,000 homes.

On Wednesday forecasters said they expected wind shifts to push smoke from the fire toward Wilmington over the next few days.

North Carolina Forest Service officials conducted a controlled burn at the site Tuesday to help secure the fire’s perimeter. The blaze has covered about 47 square miles in less than two weeks.

In Dare County, a fire has burned 70 square miles since May 5. That blaze is no longer growing. Firefighters are working now to eliminate hot spots at the center of the fire’s footprint.

Smaller fires also are burning in Pender and Sampson counties.