KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. – Investigators say a three-day fire that burned through the marshes and underbrush of Nags Head Woods Preserve was started by humans.
The Nature Conservancy announced Tuesday it is offering a $1,000 reward for information on last week’s fire that burned 242 acres of the largest maritime forest on the East Coast, according to a news release from the conservancy, which owns the tract.
Anyone with information is asked to contact North Carolina Forest Service Law Enforcement Supervisor David LaFon at 252-312-4367 or the Dare Community Crimeline at 252-473-3111. Tips can be submitted online to the Dare Community Crimeline.
Investigators are not sure what type of human activity started the fire — whether it was a campfire, trash burning or something else, LaFon said.
”We have ruled out natural causes,” LaFon said by phone Tuesday. “Everything is pointing to human causes. We’re still investigating. “ (tncms-asset)341c60f0-f5fe-11e5-850a-00163ec2aa77″}}
More than two dozen firefighters from the state’s Forest Service and local fire stations fought the blaze for three days last week, causing the 1,200-acre preserve to close. Smoke and ash hung in the air over much of the Dare County northern Outer Banks.
Dry weather and strong southwest winds fueled the flames, but officials were grateful the fire never reached the treetops, where it might have spread rapidly and threatened nearby homes. The preserve reopened on Saturday.
The Marshall Tillet family allowed its farm adjacent to the preserve to be used as an equipment staging area, according to the release. Kelly’s Restaurant and the Outer Banks Brewing Station provided free food for firefighters.
The preserve attracts about 10,000 people a year for hiking, birding and running along the trails.
