Richmond Va enveloped in smoke from fire... in North Carolina

[underpants]

Yes, that's a fire you smell -- the big N.C. wildfire

wildfire that has burned nearly 30,000 acres in North Carolina is being blamed for the smoky conditions today in the Richmond area.

Local police have been getting numerous calls this morning from people wondering if there is a fire in the area because they are smelling smoke and seeing low-lying haze.

There is a fire; it's just not here.

It's actually the one that has burned roughly 45 square miles since being detected earlier this week in Hyde County, N.C.

"I was surprised, too, but the upper-level winds are . . . carrying the smoke all the way up to the Richmond area," said James Foster, assistant forecaster in the National Weather Service's Wakefield office.

The fire has spread to three rural counties about 50 miles from the Outer Banks and doesn't appear close to being contained.