Fire burns 29 acres of Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge

BLUFFTON, SC (WTOC) - A brush fire burned 29 acres in Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge on the afternoon of July 29.

At about 3 p.m., an off-duty firefighter spotted flames on Pinckney Island after a lightning strike near Clubhouse Trail and the Bull Point area.

Dispatch also received calls when smoke became visible from Highway 278 and across Skull Creek on Hilton Head Island.

Firefighters with the Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD) responded and began initial operations.

Control of the scene was later transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) due to the fire being on federally managed land.

A BTFD Wildland Crew, who are specially trained to respond to wildfires, responded and joined USFWS and South Carolina Forestry Commission personnel in a coordinated burn-out operation.

The crew set controlled fires using drip torches along trail systems that served as natural fire breaks. This ultimately stopped the fire from spreading.

Officials stayed on the scene to monitor the area and will conduct more inspections.

As of the morning of July 30, the fire is fully contained, but light smoke remains in the area.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fire Management Officer Adam McCullough confirms the fire burned 29 acres.

No injures were reported and no structures were threatened.