UPDATED: Arson suspected in Kitty Hawk Bay marsh fire

Forestry officials are monitoring a fire on Marsh Island in Kitty Hawk Bay. [Photo courtesy Christina Ayvazian]

A Wednesday morning fire on an uninhabited island in Kitty Hawk Bay has been ruled a suspected arson.

The fire was burning this morning on Baum Point Island north of the Colington causeway, and authorities are seeking information on who may be responsible, said Dare County Forest Ranger John Van Riper.

“It is a suspected arson fire that is under investigation,” he said.

N.C. Forest service personnel attempted to access the island by boat shortly after sunrise to determine wether to suppress the fire or burn the rest of the fuel off to lessen the smoke affecting the Colington community.

Flames could be seen across the bay in Colington and off Bay Drive in Kill Devil Hills, with smoke drifting across in some places.

“Due to weather conditions and limited accessibility, the current plan is to monitor the fire with rain expected later today as the fire is contained to just the island,” Van Riper said.

Anyone with information regarding the party responsible for setting the fire should contact the Dare County office of the N.C. Forest Service at 252-473-2531 or the Dare County Sheriff’s Office at 252-475-5980.

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