Burning Smell Reported Around NoVA, DC Region Due To NC Wildfire

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — Residents around the DC region have been reporting a burning smell to their localities. According to the National Weather Service, the smell is related to the wildfire in North Carolina.

Fairfax County government shared an update from the National Weather Service's Baltimore-Washington Office saying a wind shift has caused the wildfire smell to travel widely. Officials have been getting questions about the odor, from Montgomery County, Maryland to Northern Virginia's Arlington and Fairfax counties.

"The smell may be associated with a wildfire in eastern NC," the National Weather Service shared. "Southerly winds are bringing the smoke northward. Smoke should clear out from west to east this evening with the wind shifting to the northwest."

Firefighters have been responding since Friday to the wildfire in Tyrell County, located west of North Carolina's Outer Banks, as reported by CBS 17. As of 4 p.m. Sunday, the North Carolina Forest Service said the fire was 34 percent contained and spanned 5,200 acres. The forest service noted winds were expected to push smoke west of the fire area, affecting surrounding counties.

The cause of the fire was not immediately identified.

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said winds under 2,500 feet have been blowing from eastern North Carolina toward D.C., Maryland and Virginia at about 20 to 45 mph since Monday morning. A shift in wind from the northwest Monday night should disrupt the smoke smell.