STOKES COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — North Carolina Forest Service rangers have revealed the cause of the massive fire that burned for weeks on Sauratown Mountain at the end of 2023.

On Friday, rangers revealed that the fire, which ran from Nov. 19, 2023, to Dec. 8, 2023, started with an escaped campfire and described it as accidental in nature. The people or persons responsible for starting the fire remain unknown.

In total, there was $250,792 in total damages as a result of the fire.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the forest service with information.

The start of the fire

On Nov. 19, 2023, the fire began on the north side of the mountains.

As the fire progressed and reached 55 acres, the flames began to threaten infrastructure.

Tractor plow units were on the scene installing fire lines through the night of Nov. 19, 2023, and rangers used impression tactics.

Temporary flight restrictions were put in place, and as the fire began to approach homes, officials closed Sauratown Mountain Road.

Crews from out of state were also at the scene, and rangers used winged planes and helicopters to make water drops.

Crews initially hoped that rainfall in the upcoming days would help deal with the blaze, and crews conducted burnout operations to the east of the fire to fortify the area and provide structural protection to phone towers and homes that were most vulnerable to the flames.

The terrain, which was too dangerous for direct attacks in the dark, limited officials’ ability to fight the fire.

The fire begins to spread

On Sunday evening, people who live in the immediate area were evacuated, which included 12 homes and a mountaintop youth camp. 50 campers were evacuated from the camp.

No structures had been damaged as of Nov. 20, 2023, but the flames stretched from miles, growing in all directions. The fire spread to 700 acres at this time. The windy, dry conditions only complicated the battle.

No injuries had been reported as of Nov. 20, 2023, and County Ranger Jimmy Holt said while rainfall the next day could have helped, it was not likely to crush the burn completely.

“Firefighting personnel worked diligently throughout the night to create defensible space around homes and infrastructure. Currently, crews are assessing homes and any additional structural needs. Firefighting personnel are in place to provide structure protection,” the NC Forestry Service wrote in an update on Nov. 20, 2023.

Winston-Salem Fire Department posted that they were assisting in the fight, sharing the following video.

At its peak, over 830 acres were burning on the north side of the mountains.

Containing the fire

On Nov. 21, 2023, firefighters said they had made significant progress in containing the fire, and the rain moving through the Piedmont Triad helped , but they said that the situation was far from over.

Officials say that they had reached 41% containment of the 750+ acre fire as of 11 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2023.

“Roughly 60 personnel assisted 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. Night operations reported rain over the fire at around 3 a.m. this morning. In total, approximately 150 personnel resources have supported this incident. Resources include N.C. Forest Service personnel, out-of-state resources, structural firefighters and support agencies,” the forest service said.

Crews spent the day monitoring key sites with the rain giving them time to slow down into a “tactical pause” and restock necessary equipment.

Poor visibility was a challenge for those working to fight the fire, which included the Winston-Salem Fire Department, as a combination of smoke and fog from the wet conditions created a “super fog,” reducing visibility down to near zero.

“ It’s such a challenge on Sauratown Mountain just due to access and due to terrain and just the fact that the weather hasn’t helped us,” Winston-Salem Battalion Chief Joe Ramsey said.

As of that night, Ramsey said no buildings had been damaged thanks to a collaborative effort from several local departments and crews who came from as far as Oregon.

“It’s such a brotherhood and a sisterhood. … We lost 300 acres, but we didn’t lose structures. We could’ve lost all the houses on Sauratown Mountain. We could’ve lost Mountain Top Youth Camp, but we didn’t,” Ramsey said.

Gov. Roy Cooper also stopped by the following morning to thank all the firefighters.

Evacuation orders were lifted for the residents in the area of Sauratown Mountain Road on Nov. 21, 2023, and, by Nov. 23, 2023, the fire was 69% contained.

That same day, FOX8’s Chad Tucker and his family came to serve Thanksgiving meals to those battling the fire.

“This fire hits close to home for me and my family,” said Tucker, who is from the Sauratown Mountain community and had family and property affected by the wildfire. “This is my people, my neighbors and family who volunteer to serve, to fight this wildfire and to keep us safe year round. The least we can do is tell them personally they are appreciated and serve them a meal on Thanksgiving.”

When rangers performed a drone flight with an infrared camera and failed to find any hot spots or heat near the containment lines, officials declared the fire fully contained on Dec. 8, 2023 . At its peak, over 830 acres burned on the north side of the mountains.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire, and officials said a major and minor structure sustained minor fire-related damage.

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