A wildfire on Camp Lejeune has grown to roughly 1,300 acres, officials said Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • As of Tuesday, officials at Camp Lejeune said a wildfire burning for more than a week has grown to nearly 1,300 acres

  • The fire started in the northwestern end of the Greater Sandy Run Training Area along Highway 50 

  • Officials are warning drivers on Highway 17 about possible smoke hazards and low visibility

The fire started around 2 p.m. in the northwestern end of the Greater Sandy Run Training Area (SR9) along Highway 50 on April 7. Since then, officials with the Camp Lejeune Fire Department and Base Forestry personnel said it has been gradually burning through an area of "dense, inaccessible vegetation."

It is currently 50% contained.

Smoke is expected to be an issue for anyone traveling on Highway 17, officials said. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is putting up warning signs to alert drivers of potential smoke hazards and low visibility.

“Winds are currently pushing smoke toward the base, so we are expecting reduced visibility along Highway 17 early this week,” Fire Chief Alex Rivera said in a statement. “While we anticipate the wind direction to shift later in the week, commuters could potentially experience these conditions for a longer period of time.”

The Haws Run Volunteer Fire Department is also helping to fight the fire.

The SR9, according to base officials, is a company battle range typically used for fire and maneuver as well as machine gun training.

In a statement on April 8, officials said in part, "there have been no recent prescribed fire activities in the area and no training operations have occurred locally since April 4." The cause of the fire is still under investigation.