A fire in the Croatan National Forest has more than doubled in size in a day to about 8,000 acres, prompting an advisory Monday warning five eastern counties in North Carolina of possibly unhealthy air.

A prescribed burn in the center of the 160,000-acre forest left about 2,800 acres burning Sunday but has since expanded. The fire is located between Havelock and New Bern in Craven County.

Firefighters are concerned not only about the flames, but also the smoke, Smith said.

The state Division of Quality issued a Code Orange alert for residents of Carteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow and Pamlico counties, meaning the air could be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Air quality monitors as far west as Raleigh, about 125 miles away, have shown increased particle pollution due to smoke.

via NC forest fire more than doubles in size; air quality alert issued for 5 counties.