Anyone driving on US Highway 52 has been trapped behind the car with Ohio tags that slows down to 35 miles per hour to get the iconic photo of Pilot Mountain, we understand. That photo is a rite of passage for travelers on North Carolina highways akin to the “Barstow, CA: 2,554 miles” sign outside of Wilmington, or the sombrero rising over I-95 marking South of the Border.
For residents here, the Pilot Mountain knob is seen with more than a smidge of pride that such beauty is right in the proverbial backyard. When the mountain caught fire from human negligence the weekend after Thanksgiving, this community felt a range of emotions that something so cherished and revered was at risk.
Calls came in to 911 on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 27 as people noticed something that did not look as it should. “We were leaving the parade in Mount Airy, heading home. And we happened to see a bright orange, just a bright orange sky,” Keisha Worrell said of the sickening drive down US 52 that night.
In the remarkable era of smartphones social media spread word of the fire as fast as the dry and windy conditions on site. Intrepid citizen reporters were posting videos to Facebook groups and sharing images faster than regional TV stations could get on the ground.
For those living at the foot of the mountain, the feelings were immediate and pronounced as the smell of smoke announced what eyes and ears could not report back on their own. A Pilot Mountain resident said via email that “the slightest breeze caused fear. When the wind stopped the smell of smoke perforated the air.”
As fire crews and state teams waged their battle, the area communities rallied supplies to the Pilot Knob Volunteer Fire Department at a pace so fast Mayor Evan Cockerham had to ask for a pause in donations. The teams on the mountain waged a slow downhill fight as they chased the fire toward containment lines.
On the western front, firefighters utilized portable pumps to move water to a temporary tank 3,300 feet uphill. Almost 8,000 feet of hose was stretched from the temporary tank to various mop up points within 100 feet of the fire perimeter.
When hearing 8,000 feet of hose was used, or 1,050 acres were burnt by a fire that cost more than a half a million dollars to fight, some may be conjuring up images of desolation. The mind can assume the worst when a disaster strikes and before the smoke clears, and these numbers paint an incomplete picture of the Grindstone Fire.
As the trails of Pilot Mountain State Park have reopened those first back into the park are sending positive reports. Signs of burn are visible, but the trees and forest have proven to be resilient as they have before.
There was one report of damage to a fence within the park, but thanks to the tireless work of North Carolina Forest Service, the State Parks Department and local fire crews, the fire was always contained within the park.
Mother nature finally joined in the fight last week when the skies opened, and much needed rain fell onto the area. It was just what was needed for the outdoor burn ban to be lifted. “We saw some much-needed rain during the weekend, and that has thankfully helped bring fire danger down, allowing us to lift burn ban restrictions statewide,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
“Still, I’d caution residents to remain vigilant about burning responsibly and safely. Make sure you have a valid burn permit and contact your NCFS county ranger for wildfire prevention and fire safety tips.”
The majority of the state had the burn ban lifted on Dec. 8. All previously issued permits for outdoor burning were invalidated when the statewide burn ban went into place, so new permits will be required.
The investigation into the Grindstone Trail fire on Pilot Mountain continues. What is known is the fire was caused by an escaped campfire in an undesignated area. NC Forest Service Ranger Jimmy Holt has said that the parties involved in causing the fire are unlikely to be determined. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.
Moving forward the messaging from Gov. Roy Cooper down to Pilot Mountain Mayor Evan Cockerham remains the same: be vigilant when it comes to fire safety. One ember from a campfire, an errant New Year’s Eve firework or that pesky tossed cigarette butt could be the spark that starts the next Grindstone Fire.
Source: https://www.mtairynews.com
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