The North Carolina Forest Service reported again to the scene of an White Oak Mountain fire Wednesday morning to recheck the work they did Tuesday.
The Forest Service spent most of the day on the sight, walking fire lines and checking for hot spots, said Columbus Fire Chief Geoffrey Tennant.
After spending dozens of hours battling the fire Tuesday, Rangers wanted to make sure the fire lines were holding and to take care of hot spots. The fire department left Tuesday shortly after 7 p.m. Firefighters said the fire was in safe condition.
The Forest Service said that typically the work would have been done Wednesday, but because the terrain was so inhospitable and dangerous, they didn't want to leave anyone on the mountain.
They have called for water to the site and crews will clean it up Wednesday.
Rangers expect to be out on the site Thursday, Tennant said, continuing to check the fire lines. Forest Service officials don't expect to have to do much more work after Thursday.
"If we happen to get a good rain tonight they won't have to do that tomorrow," Tennant told us. "The lines are in very good shape."
Both Tennant and the Forest Manager said there was no question that lightning started the fire.
Watch News Channel 7 and wspa.com for updates.
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