N.C. wildfire sends smoke to Va.

COLUMBIA -- North Carolina's governor declared a state of emergency Friday as firefighters worked for a sixth day to contain a massive wildfire at a federal wildlife refuge that spread smoke deep into Virginia.

Officials hoped lighter winds would help them control a blaze that had burned 29,970 acres in and around the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina, about 70 miles south of Norfolk, Va., as of Friday evening.

"Anytime the winds go lighter, that makes a vast improvement," said Dennis Wahlers, a spokesman for the North Carolina Forest Service.

Officials said Friday afternoon it was hard for spotter pilots to tell if the fire had spread because smoke from the blaze — which had drifted as far north as Richmond, Va. — was obscuring their view of the ground.

"It's literally one big cloud," said North Carolina Forest Service spokesman Bill Swartley.

The fire was projected to spread east late Friday and early Saturday.

Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency in three counties to bring firefighters from multiple agencies under a single authority. He warned that roads — including U.S. 64, U.S. 264 and three state routes — could be obscured by smoke, but officials said they are not expected to be blocked or closed.

The fire was only 30 percent contained Friday evening, and Swartley said firefighters were working to build 32 miles of containment lines. Access to the wildlife refuge was limited, and several school systems opened late Friday because of poor visibility.

No injuries or structure damage were reported. Authorities urged the evacuation of about 80 homes and opened two temporary shelters for evacuees. Community meetings were scheduled Friday and Saturday nights to answer questions from residents about the efforts to contain the fire.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for both Friday and Saturday for central and eastern North Carolina, with temperatures forecast to reach the high 90s. Combined with high humidity, heat indices in the region were predicted to reach 105 degrees.

"Once it starts warming up, the smoke will start lifting up and start dispersing a whole lot better," Wahlers said. In South Carolina, fire officials have been battling 10 to 15 small wildfires daily, slightly above normal for this time of year, said state Forestry Commission fire chief Paul Watts.

He said high temperatures can be worrisome because of the rising drought problems. "If we have an occurrence it makes it extremely tough on our firefighters to fight fire in 100-degree temperatures," he said.

While no heat advisory had been issued, temperatures were expected to approach 100 degrees over the weekend in South Carolina. Counties along the state line near North Carolina were expected to have the highest temperatures, officials with the National Weather Service said.

"It's going to be hot and dry," said Greg Lamberty, a weather service meteorologist in Columbia, S.C. "It's well above normal."