CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — Authorities said Saturday that crews are close to containing a wildfire that has scorched more than 14 square miles at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune.
The state's Forest Service and the U.S. Marine Corps said in a joint news release Saturday evening that the fire was 75 percent contained and that cool, damp weather was aiding the firefighting effort.
"Weather conditions now favor firefighters as they continue to improve control lines and work directly on the fire perimeter," the news release said.
Investigators are still working to confirm what started the fire. Marines at the military installation had been doing training exercises with weapons the day the fire started, but officials have not confirmed that as the cause.
Firefighters hope to have the blaze extinguished in the next few days.
"Full containment depends on the amount of rain received on the fire tonight and tomorrow," the news release said.
The N.C. Forest Service and the Camp Lejeune Fire & Emergency Services Division are coordinating the effort, with about 100 personnel assigned to it.
Some residents had been evacuated but have since returned home. No private buildings were reported damaged, though some minor damage was reported to military structures.
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