THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140389
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
DREW C. WILSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Flames up to 12 feet high sweep across a marshy island in Kitty Hawk
Bay, above, near Colington Monday night. At right, Colington
residents turned out to watch the fire sweep across the marsh north
of Colington Island. The fire started about 6:30 p.m. Monday and
burned 30 acres of marshland on the uninhabited island. By 3 p.m.
Tuesday the fire was still smoldering but the flames had subsided.
Firefighters and forestry officials monitored the blaze from shore.
The island is accessible only by boat. Forestry service officials
said the fire was probably started intentionally. Colington
volunteer Fire Chief Kim Piddington said the forestry officials are
investigating what they ruled a ``fire of suspicious origin.''
However, burning the marshland is actually good for the island
because new growth is generated.
KEYWORDS: FIRE by CNB