Fire crews in Richmond County were called into action Wednesday after sparks from a vehicle pulling a metal trailer ignited multiple grass fires west of Hamlet.
Officials say metal from the trailer was dragging along the pavement, creating sparks that caught dry roadside grass on fire along Freeman Mill Road and Battley Dairy Road. In total, 11 small fires were reported, each burning about one-tenth of an acre.
The Hamlet Fire Department and East Rockingham Fire Department responded quickly and contained the fires before they could spread further. Another nearby fire burned nearly half an acre before being extinguished.
North Carolina has already seen 179 wildfires burn more than 430 acres in the first few days of 2026. While no burn bans are currently in effect, fire officials warn that dry weather and careless burning continue to pose serious risks.