Asheboro, NC -- Firefighters are contending with more than just flames as they try to put out a fire in Randolph County near the Tot Hill Farm golf course.
It started as a small blaze in the Birkhead Wilderness area of the Uwharrie National Forest Saturday evening around 7pm. Firefighters from several areas got involved when strong winds fueled its growth.
The fire held at about 40 acres on Saturday, until winds help it jump a containment line and grow more.
According to Deborah Walker with the US Forest Service, as of Sunday night the fire has burned about 73 acres, mostly wilderness with some damage to private property in the area. By late Sunday, firefighters were able to contain about 73 percent of the fire after the winds died down and with the help of a helicopter.
Firefighters plan on monitoring the fire though the night to make sure that it remains contained and does not jump any of the fire barriers that are in place to keep it from spreading further.
On Monday crews are planning to inspect areas for hot spots and to reinforce the fire barrier to allow the fire to burn itself out.
The US Forest Service is investigating how it started, but says there were hikers and campers in the Wilderness when the fire first sparked.
"Because of the [low] temperatures and because the [humidity values] have dropped, we did not expect that this would be a fire day for us," Walker said.
"When you get a lot of people in the wilderness ... there's your potential for your starts," she said. "And if someone had a campfire, let's say, on Friday night and then those winds start picking up and they haven't cleared enough around their fire ring, off it goes and here we are."
Rules against using machinery in land designated as "wilderness" are also slowing down the firefighting efforts. Crews have to do most of the firefighting by hand or with the helicopter.
A couple of homes are nearby, but not in immediate danger. It could take several days to put out the fire completely.
Fire crews from several Randolph County departments are also assisting.
WFMY News 2