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While the brush fire threat isn't as high as it was Saturday, the humidity is still very low. So it's best not to burn Sunday.

Firefighters continue to battle dozens of wildfires across NC Sunday

>> BREAKING NEWS FROM WRAL COVERAGE. YOU CAN COUNT ON. >> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. I'M JULIAN GRACE. 100 ACRES OF LAND IS BURNING IN HARDIN COUNTY THIS EVENING. THE FIRE THIS STARTED YESTERDAY IS NOW ABOUT 95% CONTAINED. WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL LARGE WILDFIRES BURNING ACROSS CAROLINA. THIS ONE IS NEAR THE MOORE COUNTY LINE SOUTH EAST OF CAMERON. THAT'S WHERE WRAL'S HEIDI KIRK JOINS US LIVE NOW. AND IT YOU ARE ABLE TO GO OUT WITH SOME CREWS TODAY. WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THIS FIRE? WELL, JULIAN OFFICIALS HERE IN HARNETT COUNTY ARE WORKING TO CONTAIN THE FINAL 5% OF THIS FIRE. NOW, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE. >> HOW THEY'RE DOING THAT NOW. THIS IS CALLED A BACK BURN. THIS IS A CONTROLLED FIRE. IT WAS ACTUALLY SET BY OFFICIALS HERE THAT WILL HELP TO CONTAIN THAT ORIGINAL WILDFIRE. NOW WE'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT AN HOUR WATCHING THE FLAMES START TO GO DOWN AND THEY SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE FINAL STEPS THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING TO CONTAIN THIS FIRE HERE NOW, GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE VIDEO ON YOUR SCREEN. WE JUST SHOT THIS VIDEO WITHIN THE LAST 2 HOURS. WE MET SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WATCH THIS FIRE LATE IN THE DAY YESTERDAY, CREEP TOWARD THEIR HOMES AS FIRE OFFICIALS WORK TO CONTAIN IT AND FIGHT THOSE FLAMES. MANY OF THEM TELLING US IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS FIRE CREEPING TOWARD THEIR HOMES. TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT ONE PERSON HAD TO SAY ABOUT WHAT HE EXPERIENCED. >> I LOOKED OVER TO SEE A BUNCH OF BLACK SMOKE AND I SEEN IT COMING OVER THAT WAY IN THE WIND WAS PUSHING ALL THAT. WELL, LOOK AT THAT WIND UP KEEPING ON GOING INTO THAT FIELD, WHICH IS WHERE ALL THE TALL GRASS WAS LIKE. THAT'S GOING TO CATCH UP AND SURE ENOUGH IT DID. >> NOW, FIRE OFFICIALS HERE IN HARNETT COUNTY ARE URGING ONE OF 2 THINGS THEY'RE SAYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT FOR A WILDFIRE THAT YOU DON'T BURN ANYTHING YOURSELF. AND OF COURSE, THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THIS SPECIFIC FIRE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE LOOKING INTO THAT AND ASKING QUESTIONS IN THE DAYS TO COME, HEIDI. KIRK, WRAL, NEWS LIVE IN HARNETT COUNTIES. >> NOT FAR FROM WHERE HEIDI US TONIGHT. I'M BUT ACROSS THE BORDER INTO MOORE COUNTY, A LARGE FIRE WAS BURNING OFF FIREFOX ROAD. THE FIRE DESTROYED SEVERAL VEHICLES, A CAMPER, A TRACTOR AND PART OF AN OUTBUILDING. BUT FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. FIREFIGHTERS WERE USING FOAM TO SMOTHER THE FLAMES OF THAT'S THE WHITE SUBSTANCE YOU SEE RIGHT THERE COVERING THE BURN AREAS. YOU SEE THAT NOW CREWS AT THE SCENE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FIRE UNITS, INCLUDING A PLOW FROM THE FORESTRY SERVICE AND A TANKER TASK FORCE TRUCK. FIREFOX ROAD WAS CLOSED TO TRAVEL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS EARLIER TODAY, 400 ACRE FIRE CONTINUES TO BURN IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THAT THIS RIGHT HERE IS ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE LINE. VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN POLK COUNTY AS CREWS WORKED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RESCUE TEAM THERE SAID THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY A DOWNED POWER LINE ALONG HIGHWAY ONE. 76 NEAR TRYON. >> IT MADE THE SKY SUCH AN ODD COLOR. I WAS GOING FOR A WALK AND IT TURNED THIS COLOR YELLOW AND >> I MEAN, IT'S BAD ENOUGH FROM HELENE. NOW WE'VE GOT THIS AND THAT I MEAN, THE FOREST, IT'S JUST. REALLY BAD. >> SEVERAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE ASSISTING WITH THE FIREFIGHT, INCLUDING THE NORTH CAROLINA FOREST SERVICE. FIREFIGHTERS ARE CONDUCTING AIRDROPS AND A BACK BURNING OPERATIONS AS WELL. WORK IS UNDERWAY TO PROTECT, THREATENED STRUCTURES. THERE IS A SHELTER FOR EVACUEES AT THE POLK COUNTY SENIORS CENTER IN COLUMBUS. THE FIRES AREN'T JUST THE TROUBLE THIS GOING ON IN NORTH CAROLINA THIS WEEKEND. FIRST RESPONDERS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA HAVE DESCENDED ON HORRY COUNTY TO HELP BATTLE A MASSIVE WILDFIRE. RESIDENTS FROM SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS WERE FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES EARLIER BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME THIS AFTERNOON, WE SPOKE WITH THE FORMER WRAL NEWS EMPLOYEE AND CURRENT WMBF REPORTER STEVEN SLING TODAY. HE'S BEEN COVERING THE FIRE ALL WEEKEND AND HE SAYS FIREFIGHTERS WERE MOVING FAST TO SAVE LIVES. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THESE FIRST RESPONDERS REALLY CROWDED INTO THAT AREA STARTED GOING DOOR TO DOOR AND PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES, PEOPLE'S PETS OUT OF THEIR HOMES, MAKING TREAT THEM TO CPD, KNEW THAT THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY AS Y'ALL ARE DEALING WITH THIS WELSH, THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR BRIDGE. WE JUST NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE SOMETHING THIS BIG HAD TO BE VERY FRIGHTENING MOMENTS IN HORRY COUNTY SPOKESPERSON SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF HOMES OR OTHER STRUCTURES BEING LOST IN THE WILDFIRE. >> DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN TOMORROW. >> AND HERE IN THE WRAL LIVE CENTER, LET'S TALK FIRE CONTAINMENT STATEWIDE AND YOU WANT TO HOP BACK TO HARNETT COUNTY WILL ZOOM IN ON THAT HERE. AS YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AGAIN, THAT IS 100 ACRE FIRE. THIS INDICATES ONLY 90% CONTAINED. BUT AS HEIDI MENTIONED, IT'S AT ABOUT 95. NOW LET'S GO A FURTHER EAST OVER IN JOHNSTON COUNTY. WE'RE SEEING FEWER SURROUNDING FIRES THAN WE DID. 24 HOURS AGO. BUT 2 ACRES BURNED THEIR 100% CONTAINMENT, BUT IT IS STILL MARKED IS ACTIVE. GIVE ME A SECOND HERE. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FURTHER WEST OVER IN POLK COUNTY. OF COURSE, THIS PROBABLY BEING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FIRE IN THE STATE. THAT IS 400 PLUS ACRES. 0% CONTAINMENT. THAT ACREAGE HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS. BUT THAT CONTAINMENT

Crews work around the clock to battle wildfires across Carolinas

Harnett County brush fire

Severe thunderstorms remain possible in North Carolina Wednesday; damaging gusts the main threat

Local view of the potential for severe thunderstorms Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Massive South Carolina fire grows to 1,600 acres, 30% contained

Wildfire (generic), brush fire, arson or nature disaster 

Calm before the storm: Temperatures slowly rise ahead of Wednesday's WRAL Weather Alert Day

Not quite as cold Monday afternoon

'Truly magical moment': Man spots albino deer while on walk with family in Raleigh

Albino deer spotted in Raleigh

'We've never had this before': NC launches new tool aimed at bringing missing children home

North Carolina Center for Missing Persons website

Woman stabbed with machete Sunday in Raleigh, suspect in custody, police say

Generic police signage 

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WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Wind gusts forecast on Wednesday, March 5

LOS ANGELES (AP) â âAnora,â a strip club Cinderella story without the fairy tale ending, was crowned best picture at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, handing Sean Bakerâs gritty, Brooklyn-set screwball farce Hollywoodâs top prize. Sean Baker made Oscar history Sunday at the 97th Academy Awards, becoming the nightâs big winner with five statuettes overall, two more than âThe Brutalist.â

The Latest: 'Anora' wins best picture at the 97th Academy Awards

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DALLAS (AP) -- Aziaha James had 19 points and nine rebounds while Zoe Brooks also scored 19 as No. 9 N.C. State beat SMU 69-45 on Sunday to claim the top seed in the ACC Tournament.

No. 9 NC State women beat SMU 69-45 to claim top seed in ACC Tournament

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According to the State Bureau of Investigations, it's an undeniable fact: child trafficking is getting worse.



SBI Investigator says likelihood of being targeted for trafficking has a lot to do with a child's access to the internet

Siler City Police Department

North Carolina judges are elected in partisan elections with an "R" or a "D" next to their name on the ballot, just like any other politician. Democratic lawmakers want to make judicial elections nonpartisan again.

Democrats push to make NC judicial elections nonpartisan as battle intensifies over Supreme Court race

N.C. Supreme Court chamber

The incident happened at the Cummins Drivetrain and Braking Systems facility on Railroad Avenue in York on Thursday, the company said in a statement. The cause of the incident was not revealed.

Man dies in work accident at SC manufacturing site

Police car, blue lights, at night

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Paris Clark and Kymora Johnson each hit two late foul shots to help Virginia beat No. 8 North Carolina 78-75 on Sunday.

Paris Clark makes 2 big foul shots as Virginia tops No. 8 North Carolina 78-75

Courtney Banghart

A woman was hit and killed by a car Saturday on New Hope Road in Raleigh.

Driver charged after woman hit, killed by car on New Hope Road in Raleigh

The residents of Fayetteville, a diverse city of 210,000, are acutely aware that their fortunes are tied to Fort Bragg.

As Trump overhauls the military, Fort Bragg and its neighbors brace for change

As Trump Overhauls the Military, Fort Bragg and Its Neighbors Brace for Change

DANVILLE, Va. (AP) â A decision to move the remains of hundreds African American tenant farmers from a former Virginia tobacco plantation to a dedicated burial ground has elicited a range of emotions among the sharecroppersâ descendants.

Black graves are being moved to make way for an industrial park, drawing a mix of emotions

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Sunday, March 2, 2025 -- The question hovering over Washington was whether the Oval Office confrontation was a spontaneous outburst or a planned verbal smack down.

TYLER PAGER & MAGGIE HABERMAN: How Zelenskyy's meeting turned into a showdown with Trump

The U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal Is Now In Peril: What We Know

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Schedule and sees for the ACC women's basketball tournament, which begins Tuesday in Greensboro.

ACC women's basketball tournament seeds, schedule, TV networks

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Adrien Brody took home his second leading man Oscar for "The Brutalist," Mikey Madison took home the best actress statuette and "Anora" was crowned best picture on its way to five awards Sunday.

Complete list of winners at the 97th Academy Awards

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Best looks from the 2025 Oscars

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Celebrate Mardi Gras, check out the Bull City Food and Beer Experience and more this weekend.



Weekend best bets: Mardi Gras, Bull City Food and Beer Experience

Durham Mardi Gras parade	

Coming from Indiana nearly five years ago, WRAL anchor/reporter Julian Grace said he's always found a deep connection to Raleigh. During this Black History Month, he decided to learn more about his connections to one of Raleigh's oldest Black neighborhoods.

Julian Grace learns of family's connection to North Carolina's dark past

James Caldwell (left) and Julian Grace and his family (right)

Several law enforcement officers, including drug enforcement agents and Wake Forest police, responded to a home near Jonesville Road in Wake Forest.

Two arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine after DEA agents, Wake Forest police search home

DEA agents, Wake Forest police surround home

Don't Miss It

Duke Lemur Center welcomes new baby

Expert urges parents: Monitor, limit your child's online relationships 

Triangle Muslims begin Ramadan delivering food to those in need

I-40 to Tennessee open with limits on lanes, speed

Severe weather possible on Wednesday

Severe weather potential for Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Brain Game: Seaforth High School vs. Vance County Early College

WRAL's Brain Game

Video Central

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Local News

Next season at DPAC features familiar stories

After pair of Amber Alerts, computer crimes expert urges parents to monitor kids' online activity

No. 2 Duke rolls past Florida State 100-65 following Flagg's injury scare

Apex police help bald eagle with damaged wing

Israel has cut off all supplies to Gaza. Here's what that means

Nation/World

Republicans once maligned Medicaid. Now some see a program too big to touch

GOP pushes ahead with citizenship voting bill. Some state election officials say it's problematic

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo launches political comeback with a run for New York City mayor

Israel is criticized after it bars Gaza aid to pressure Hamas to accept a new ceasefire proposal

Discover how to celebrate Mardi Gras in the Triangle with a variety of events that bring the spirit of New Orleans to North Carolina.


How to celebrate Mardi Gras in the Triangle

Mardi Gras RDU

Foodie News: The Bike Library coffee bar opening in Raleigh, Happy + Hale adds new location

The Bike Library

Newly restored Wheels Skating Park opens in Durham

Wheels Skating Park

Find out how to get free admission to Marbles Kids Museum

Marbles Kids Museum offers way to play at home

Oscar-nominated films overlook climate change, report finds

Awards_Season_16915

Businesses begin preparing for a March full of basketball throughout the Triangle

Raleigh NCAA Tournament banner

Out & About

Fact check: Would SAVE Act disqualify voters who have changed their names?

Politifact

Fact check: Mace says people 'either have XX or XY chromosomes'

Fact check: Is the State Department about to pay Tesla $400 million for Cybertrucks?

Fact check: How much USAID funding goes to people in need?

Fact-checking Warren's claim about RFK Jr.'s work on vaccine lawsuits

How they voted: NC congressional votes for the week ending Feb. 27

NC Capitol

What NC members of Congress are saying after Trump-Zelensky meeting

State GOP lawmakers hope to emulate DOGE in NC

NC lawmakers lob criticism at DMV boss, a day after he announces resignation

'Everyone's excited about DOGE': NC Republicans look to bring Musk-style review to state government

Saturday a school day for some in Wake County

Education

App State interim chancellor earns permanent role

Duke University's undergraduate tuition, fees will surpass $92K for 2025-26 school year

NC Senate sets up votes for bills targeting Attorney General Jeff Jackson, immigration, cell phones in schools

How the Wake County Public School System plans to address budget concerns

Statewide project aims to prevent human trafficking across NC

WRAL In Depth

Fire department: Cary home fire likely due to hot tub linked to recalls

Durham vet hospital tackles pet blood shortage with donations from staff pets

Wayne Goodwin's tenure: DMV wait times improve, but public dissatisfaction persists

Each year, hurricane forecasts get better at predicting path and strength of storms

WRALSportsFan

Sebastian Aho's OT goal lifts Hurricanes past Flames 2-1

No. 16 Duke women beat No. 24 Florida St. 71-57, clinch No. 3 seed, double bye at ACC Tournament

Bell makes late charge for lead and holds off Byron at COTA for 2nd straight NASCAR victory

Canes lose to Oilers after first period power-play struggles 

NCHSAA Board of Directors to meet about realignment on Monday

HighSchoolOT

Boys Basketball Playoffs: Takeaways from round 2; The best matchups in round 3

(12) Lincolnton topples (5) Maiden in 2A boys basketball playoffs

Third quarter run helps (13) Rolesville girls earn marquee road win at (4) Southeast Raleigh

(3) Sanderson punches third round ticket with win over (19) Millbrook

The Wake County Sheriff's Office announced late Thursday that Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo was extradited from Mexico to the U.S., where he will face a murder trial.

Wake County deputy's accused killer extradited back to US

Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo

A bill to crack down on undocumented immigrants in North Carolina passed its first vote Wednesday in a key state Senate committee.  

NC Senate leaders advance immigration crackdown bill

A new North Carolina bill would require all state agencies and state funded programs to check the immigration status of everyone they serve - and refuse to serve anyone who can't prove they're in the country legally, except services protected by federal law like schools and emergency rooms.

Investigations of overdose deaths lead to more autopsy requests, straining the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. But Union County has a unique solution.

Union County opens autopsy center to help address medical examiner backlog

On Tuesday, state lawmakers discussed adopting a more consistent, effective policy statewide for the next school year.

Proposal to ban cell phones in NC classes passes first key vote

Investigations of overdose deaths lead to more autopsy requests, straining the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. But one county has a unique solution.

As ODs strain medical examiners, one county opens autopsy center to hasten justice

In February 2024, three men were found dead in a Durham hotel room.

School leaders are also bracing for federal funding cuts, but they're not sure what those could be.

Wake school board, commissioners discuss millions in new budget needs

On Tuesday, the Wake County school board and county commissioners discussed upcoming funding challenges for the school system..

WRAL Specialists

Crash tests reveal concerns with two infant car seats

Restaurant Ratings: La Buena Vida, David's Dumpling

Child car seat crash results 'concerning,' Consumer Reports says

The CFPB drops its enforcement lawsuits against Capital One, Rocket Homes and more

5 On Your Side

Durham County years behind in fire inspections of large employers

Durham County delays: Large employers haven't had fire inspections in years

How effective is remote learning?

Snow days or remote learning? Parents see benefits, shortcomings of both

Investigations

Tom Snyder: Complex, pivotal global semiconductor supply chain runs through western NC

Political, business leaders see bright days ahead for NC tech

David Gardner: Investing in AI large vs. small language model based startups

From Classroom to Career: how NCCUâs BRITE program transformed one studentâs path

WRAL TechWire

North Carolina company owner pleads guilty over attempted technology sale to China

EV tax credit rejected, IRS explains what owners can do

'Captain America: Brave New World' stays at the top on weak Oscars weekend at the box office

Tariff threats and uncertainty could weigh on consumers, drag down US economy, gov't report suggests

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