Sauratown Mountain blaze grows to cover nearly 350 acres

Fire crews continue to battle a blaze on Sauratown Mountain in Stokes County. 

Guilford County Ranger Jimmy Holt says that in addition to regional fire departments, crews from Oregon, Utah, Washington State, and Montana are assisting in suppressing the blaze, which he estimates has grown to almost 350 acres.

Holt says crews tried to establish a fire line east of the blaze, where it threatened nearly 15 homes and some communication towers.

"The fire did jump the line sometime last night probably around six or seven o'clock," says Holt. "At that point, Stokes County emergency management did go ahead with evacuations of homes on Sauratown Mountain Road."

About 50 campers were also evacuated from a mountaintop youth camp north of the fire. No injuries have been reported.

Holt says that anticipated rainfall Monday night and Tuesday will significantly help efforts to extinguish the blaze.

"Once the rain event has moved out, we'll use that opportunity to put in additional control lines, contingency lines, with the help of hand crews on the ground as well as heavy equipment to establish good lines around the fire," says Holt. 

Holt says several fires around the state are straining resources, and he urges residents to curtail any outside burning.