Press release

RALEIGH – Pilot Mountain State Park in Stokes County remains closed today following a flare-up of a prescribed burn on Thursday that ignited areas outside the burn area, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Fire crews from the state parks system, the N.C. Forest Service and area volunteer departments have responded to control the blaze.

The flare-up occurred about 3:30 p.m. Thursday after about 70 acres near the mountain’s summit had successfully undergone a low-level prescribed burn. Burn coordinators said that embers emitted from a standing dead tree were blown across a fire line. About 30 acres outside the prescribed burn area were affected overnight. The fire is near a summit-area trail and a rock climbing area on the mountain’s western slope. Weather conditions during the prescribed burn, including humidity and wind speed and direction, were well within expected parameters.

Updates on the park’s closing status will be posted at http://www.ncparks.gov.