Two forest fires in Pender County last week have kept forestry personnel normally assigned to Columbus County busy as Pender is one of the six counties in District 8, N. C. Forest Service with headquarters in Whiteville.

The second wild fire in Pender Wednesday was brought under control with eight tractors and aircraft dropping fire retardant.

Operations officer Ray Dew of District 8 said two fire plow tractors remained in Columbus County Wednesday afternoon as other tractors and personnel normally working in Columbus County were fighting the Pender fires.

“We can get more help if we need it,” Dew said, as fire fighting equipment and personnel could be brought in from other districts.

Wednesday afternoon only one fire had been reported in Columbus County. A blaze in the St. James community north of Lake Waccamaw was brought under control after burning about three acres, Dew said.