SWAN QUARTER — The Rose Bay Canal Fire burning in Hyde County has grown to 455 acres and is 20% contained, according to an update released Monday, June 8, 2026, by the North Carolina Forest Service.
The wildfire was first reported on June 2 and has continued to challenge firefighters as it burns through an area characterized by deep organic pocosin soils and dry vegetation. Fire officials said those conditions have complicated suppression efforts and contributed to fire growth over the weekend.
Unlike many wildfires that burn primarily through grasses and trees, the Rose Bay Canal Fire is also affecting the deep organic soils common to Hyde County’s pocosin wetlands. Those soils can smolder underground for extended periods, creating persistent hot spots and making the fire more challenging to contain.
Albemarle Observer reporters visit the Swan Quarter area last week observed a noticeable smoke haze stretching across agricultural fields near the intersection of U.S. Highway 264 and Turnpike Road. The smell of smoke lingered in the air as visibility diminished across portions of the county’s farmland, where young corn and soybean crops are beginning to emerge.
According to the North Carolina Forest Service, minimal spotting activity allowed the fire to expand over the weekend. However, aerial and ground firefighting resources have successfully caught spot fires and limited further spread.
Firefighters, including local volunteer fire departments, are using heavy equipment, engines and irrigation systems to strengthen containment lines, extinguish hot spots and reinforce the fire’s western perimeter ahead of forecast northeast winds. Smoke is expected to continue affecting nearby communities, including the Hyde Correctional Facility.
Nearly 70 personnel are assigned to the incident. A North Carolina Forest Service Type III Incident Management Team has assumed command of the fire, working alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Weyerhaeuser and Hyde County Emergency Management. Additional aviation assets, personnel and equipment are being deployed to support containment efforts.
The wildfire is burning as Hyde County remains under moderate drought conditions, according to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council. Hyde County is currently classified as D1 (Moderate Drought) on the U.S. Drought Monitor, a designation associated with drying vegetation, increased crop stress and elevated wildfire danger. While officials have not linked the drought directly to the fire’s ignition, the dry conditions have likely contributed to receptive fuels and challenging firefighting conditions.
Officials said the cause of the Rose Bay Canal Fire remains under investigation.
The North Carolina Forest Service said future updates will be provided if conditions change or if there is an impact to public safety.
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