Experts defend lightning strike theory as skeptics question Shallotte wildfire cause
portcitydaily.com
A wildfire in Shallotte had no witnesses and no obvious ignition point — so how do experts defend lightning as the cause weeks after a storm?
Holdover Fire TheoryOccam's RazorBurden of ProofExpert Consensus vs. Public Skepticism
Theory Briefing
- Lightning "holdover" fires can smolder underground for days or weeks before surfacing, making a delayed ignition nearly invisible to investigators.
- Experts reconfirmed the lightning strike theory for the Shallotte wildfire despite skeptics questioning the lack of direct evidence.
- The "sleeper fire" mechanism — where heat persists in roots or peat long after a strike — is the core of the official explanation.
- The gap between a storm and a visible fire is exactly what makes holdover fires hard to prove and easy to doubt.