North Carolina
Officials urge caution as North Carolina's spring wildfire season begins
March is the start of the spring wildfire season in North Carolina.
The state had more than 5,300 wildfires last year, which burned more than 76,000 acres. North Carolina has two wildfire seasons: one during the spring and one during the fall. According to Philip Jackson, a public information officer with the North Carolina Forest Service, springtime is typically the most active season for wildfires.
That’s partially due to plants and other vegetation waking up and refueling after their winter dormancy.
“Think of a bear when it wakes up from hibernation,” Jackson said. “It’s got to eat. And these plants, they’ve got to pull that moisture from the ground, and they need that nutrients to be able to bloom and develop.”
Courtesy of Philip Jackson
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N.C. Forest Service
Despite springtime rain, Jackson said that these thirsty plants can dry out the areas around them. The greenery that ushers in spring then signals the start of more days with high fire danger.
“Think of each individual root system being a straw in the ground, and that straw is sucking that water out of the ground,” Jackson said. “Even when you have days where you get a lot of rain, it might not hang around for very long because you have so many different organisms that are pulling that moisture out of the ground. So, the vegetation can dry out a little quicker.”
The warmer weather also draws more people outdoors for recreation and spring cleaning, which creates more ignition opportunities. Jackson said that in North Carolina, 99% of wildfires are caused by humans. Of the more than 300 wildfires that occurred in the last week alone, Jackson said that just one was started by lightning. All others were human-caused.
Debris burning is the main culprit of North Carolina’s wildfires. The practice is often used to dispose of leaves, tree limbs and other yard debris. Last March, a debris burn on private land in Tyrrell County escaped containment, reaching 5,280 acres in size. It took firefighters about two weeks to fully contain the fire.
Jackson says residents need to be mindful of wildfire causes heading into the spring season. Before burning, Jackson encouraged landowners to obtain a burn permit and to keep phones and water sources nearby. Additionally, he said residents should not burn debris on dry, windy days.
The spring wildfire season runs through May.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
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Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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