STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — Sauratown Mountain Fire crews said things are trending in a good direction as 41% of the fire is contained, thanks to the rain Tuesday. The fire approximately reached 750 acres, and thanks to the rain, it stayed that way on Tuesday.
Firefighters said just over an inch of rain was recorded on the fire.
Fire crews on the mountain continue to dig and create strong fire lines which they established Monday.
Sauratown Volunteer Fire Firefighter Josh Southern has been on the mountain for the past four days.
He was in the first truck to respond Saturday night saying the fire was very active.
"It kept jumping our fire lines. The fire was three to four feet off the ground when it got into heavy fuel loads, but other than that it was mostly a low burning fire about 12 inches off the ground, but we couldn't contain our lines," Southern said.
The rain Tuesday was the saving grace, keeping flames at the fire lines crews created.
But there was another issue firefighters had to work through, visibility.
"We’ve had an issue with super fog this morning, a combination of that and smoke,” said NC Forest Service, Jimmy Holt.
Roughly 60 personnel helped with night operations, some of whom were dayshift crews that extended their operational period due to predicted gusty winds ahead of forecast precipitation for the overnight hours.
Approximately 150 personnel resources have helped fight the fire.
Tuesday, the rain is expected to suspend suppression tactics for ground personnel. Firefighter safety remains a top priority as rainfall presents slip, trip, and fall hazards, especially on wet, steep terrain.
County Ranger Jimmy Holt talked about how important Tuesday is for crews.
"It's extremely important and the fire behavior that we were seeing and with the drought we were in the last couple of months today is a game-changer, it is," Holt said.
Out-of-state crews that were assigned to other parts of the state were moved to Stokes County, including crews that were assigned to Rockingham County earlier this week.
"We have our fair share of rugged terrains roadless and inaccessible terrain at that so we're used to being able to get off the road in the rugged area where we can't get water and trucks to. For us it's all hand tool work chainsaw work removing that fuel from the line and remove the fuel out in front of the fire to be able to slow that fire and stop it," said Jeff Delarosa with the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Sauratown Mountain Road has reopened for people who live in that area. The Stokes County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook with a warning to the public to not ride up the mountain or stop alongside the route up the mountain as that is a safety issue and it is interfering with firefighter's efforts.
It is all hands on deck not just with fire teams but also in the community. Neighbors in the area brought food and water to fire teams yesterday.
"We were taught to help our neighbors help our family whether it be fighting a fire or cooking for them," said Brian Brown owns John Brown's Country Store and Grill.
Even with rain in the forecast, the Forest Service continues to discourage burning.
A burn ban remains in effect in western North Carolina; however, a burn ban has not been issued for the Piedmont, including Stokes County.
Firefighters are working to assess YMCA Camp Hanes and Mountain Top Youth Camp for hazard trees that could have been compromised during the fire and if those trees could be safely removed.
MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2
Subscribe to our daily newsletter Let’s Get 2 It!
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.