Taxpayers to pay thousands for Pender County brush fire

PENDER COUNTY — It looks like taxpayers are going to shell out the thousands of dollars it cost to put out a Pender County brush fire started by two men.

The Division of Forest resources says they will not pursue reimbursement from George Dale and James Kye.

The men are charged with a class-three misdemeanor for the April 23 fire.

Investigators say the men had a burn permit and the fire was started accidentally.

The total cost to battle the Sidbury Road and Highway 17 near Buckshot Road brushfires is about $300,000.