Eastern NC wildfire 90 percent contained

COLUMBIA — Officials are sending firefighters home from an eastern North Carolina wildfire that is now 90 percent contained after burning more than 40,000 acres.

Fire spokesman Roger Miller said Tuesday that water pumping operations have been completed. He said water will be allowed to stand on some sections of peat soil for two to four weeks while it soaks into the ground and puts out underground fire.

But Miller said fire managers estimate it could be weeks before the operation completely ends unless substantial rainfall is received to extinguish all the underground fire.

The fire began June 1 with a lightning strike on private land and has burned in and around Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)