VIDEO: The Croatan National Forest fire is holding steady at 950 acres and about 60% containment. The fire began over a week ago, and although the flames have calmed, the burn continues to make its way underground. According to the U.S Forest Service, the Black Swamp Fire is burning on what’s known as a picosin. This boggy wetland is full of peat rich soil, which can burn and smolder underground for long periods of time. Officials in the Croatan now are working to soak through that peat, which is necessary to fully extinguish a fire like this one. How do you fight a fire that’s burning underground? According to North Carolina Forest Service hydrologist, Brady Dodd, it takes a lot of water.
