Pilot Mountain fire caused by campfire

The cause of the fire that's consumed more than 1,000 acres and continues to burn on Pilot Mountain has been discovered.

As of Wednesday evening, the blaze that began Saturday was roughly 50% contained. The fire was fueled in part by low humidity, dry conditions — just under two inches of rain there since late September — and high winds. 

State investigators with the North Carolina Forest Service say the initial spark was a campfire that burned in an unauthorized area.

Chief of Law Enforcement Jeff Burns says locating the fire's origins involves following the direction of burn indicators such as marks on rocks, trees, and other vegetation to the source. In the case of Pilot Mountain, they had a lead.

“Some photos from bystanders at an early point in the fire and we were able to get at least in the area, so we didn't have to look at the whole 1,050 acres. And then we can use again those indicators to lead us back to that point,” says Burns. 

Short-term forecasting calls for continued drought conditions in the region. Burns cautions people to remain vigilant with debris burning and campfires.