Twelve firefighters from four Johnston County departments traveled to Hyde County last week to help fight the fire in the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

They supplied local firefighters with extra tankers and were ready to protect structures from the wildfire, which had burned more than 41,000 acres by Monday.

The N.C. Fire Marshal’s Office contacted Johnston County Emergency Services on June 8, asking Director Kim Robertson if Johnston could provide personnel and equipment to help fight the fire.

The response Robertson got from Johnston departments was a clear “yes,” and four firefighters from Corinth-Holder, three from Four Oaks, three from Selma and two from Wilson’s Mills went to Hyde County. The Johnston firefighters were based at a school near Lake Mattamuskeet, off U.S. 264, Robertson said.

Selma Fire Chief Phillip McDaniel and fellow firemen Josh Long and T.J. Harper left about 90 minutes after getting the call. McDaniel said several other Selma firefighters expressed interest in helping but couldn’t go because of job obligations. Selma has a volunteer fire department.

McDaniel and his men were responsible for protecting structures from the fire. Had the fire endangered houses or other structures, the Selma crew would have been called to action.

“Our engines were in place, but fortunately, the fire never came close,” McDaniel said.

The three men stayed one night in Gum Neck Township, another in Ponser and the third at the base camp. They were part of a group of about 140 outsiders who volunteered to help with firefighting efforts, McDaniel said.

One thing that stuck with McDaniel was how rural the area is. “If we had that big of a fire here, I don’t know what we would have to go through,” he said.

The gig included a lot of waiting, with not much to do than keep equipment ready.

“I’ve been much busier here, but of course it’s a good thing that the fire wasn’t threatening any structures,” McDaniel said.

The refuge is in Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington counties, about 40 miles from the coast. The fire began June 1, ignited by a lightning strike.