Firefighters battled two major brush fires in Franklin County. It was a very dangerous situation for residents whose homes were in the path of the fires as well as drivers. Which forced sheriff's officials to close major roads and evacuated hundreds of families.
It is an ominous scene, dense think smoke in the wake of flames that jumped US-1, burning a path of destruction.
More than a half dozen fires threatened parts of Franklin County, forcing sheriff's officials to close down US-1 in both directions and go door to door evacuating frightened residents.
"They came and knocked on the door and told all of us to evacuate cause there was a fire on both ends," resident, Michael Morgan said.
Nearby homeowners were not sleeping Sunday night, but instead kept an eye on the orange sky as it inched closer to their property.
"We watched it since about 2 p.m. and it was about three or four power lines down that way now it's up to right behind his house so it's getting closer," homeowner, Harry Woods said.
With dry conditions and wind gusts exceeding 40 miles per hour, crews say they were having a hard time getting ahead of the fire to contain it.
"There isn't anything to do, just get out the way, that's all we can do," Morgan said.
Officials struggled with two big fires; one at the Pine Woods Mobile Home Park north of Franklinton and other at an area near Sims Bridge and Dyking Road, just off of Highway 56.
There are confirmed reports of some mobile homes catching fire, but no word of any injuries.
The dozens of evacuated residents were sent to the senior center in Louisburg and Cedar Creek Middle School.
