VIDEO: Wildfires are a risk throughout Eastern Carolina. The Croatan National Forest received funding to help with wildfire prevention. Forest managers say while the funding won’t prevent all fires it will provide resources to lessen the impact. The Croatan National Forest is full of high fuel vegetation that labels it as a high risk for wildfires. Croatan National Forest was awarded a $5 million dollar grant toward wildfire risk reduction. David Nelson is the Fire Management Officer for the Croatan Ranger District in the National Forests of North Carolina. Back in 2023 the Great Lake fire destroyed thousands of acres in Craven, Carteret, and Jones County. Officer Nelson says this funding will go toward both firefighter training, and machinery to cut down those high fuel areas.