Here’s what caused ongoing fire that has burned 1,050 acres on Pilot Mountain in NC

The devastating fire atop Pilot Mountain has been traced to the remains of a campfire, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.

“The cause of the Grindstone Fire was determined to be an escaped campfire in an undesignated area,” officials said in a news release.

Investigators did not say if they have a suspect linked to the campfire.

The blaze has burned 1,050 acres in Surry County, and was listed as 50% contained late Wednesday, Dec. 1. Much of the burned acreage is within Pilot Mountain State Park, officials said.

Nearly 90 personnel have been recruited to fight the fire and remove weakened trees (called snags) “that pose a hazard.”

“Firefighting resources are observing minimal fire activity with scattered smoldering on the Grindstone Fire,” officials said. “Snag-felling was primarily conducted along the containment lines as well as roads within Pilot Mountain State Park.”

The fire was discovered on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 27, according to the Pilot Knob Volunteer Fire Department. A campground at the park was evacuated when 50 firefighters were unable to control the blaze.

A lack of rainfall and windy conditions have worked “against” firefighters, WGHP reported.

Forest service officials say their approach has evolved to treating the fire like a “prescribed burn” that is being allowed to continue in a controlled manner.

In doing so, it prevents crews from “scarring up the mountain” and killing trees with aggressive use of water and fire retardants, officials said.

Another wildfire, called the Sauratown Mountain Fire, has been contained after burning 40 acres in Stokes County since Nov. 9, officials said. It has also been traced to an escaped campfire, officials said.

This story was originally published December 2, 2021 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Here’s what caused ongoing fire that has burned 1,050 acres on Pilot Mountain in NC."