STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — After days of work, firefighters are still working to put out a wildfire in the Sauratown Mountains.
The North Carolina Forest Service said Friday evening law enforcement rangers believe the fire started from an abandoned campfire. They haven't determined who is responsible yet and say the investigation is ongoing at this time.
According to Forest Service officials, the fire was still contained to a 25-acre area Friday morning.
North Carolina Forest Services Ranger Jimmy Holt said rainfall overnight helped control the flames and smoke activity on the mountain. As of 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, approximately 54 personnel resources are assigned to the firefight, according to the NCFS website.
Earlier in the week, officials said the fire crossed the fire barriers they put up on Wednesday. They set up fire lines at the base of the mountain to protect the homes closer to the bottom.
Fire officials said the flames were reported at 11 a.m. Tuesday after someone called and reported seeing smoke coming from the top of the mountain.
Crews have worked all week to reduce the flames in bringing water up to the mountain by air.
Helicopters were seen dropping water on the mountain Friday morning.
Jen Deridder is the executive director of YMCA Camp Hanes, which is located just down the road from the mountain.
She said they saw smoke when the fire started earlier this week.
She knows a little bit about the challenges fire crews are dealing with as they try and fight the flames.
"I have hiked this mountain. None of this terrain is easy and I know where they are working this fire. There are no trails to access what they are working on so we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers as they do the hard work that they are doing," said Deridder.
Dwayne Young shared this video of ash falling in Lawsonville in Stokes County a few miles from the wildfire.
Due to the condition of the land, water can only be dropped from the air using helicopters and single-engine air tanks.
Currently, there are no homes in danger of being impacted and there are no injuries at this time.