Local

Campfire cause of large blaze at Lake Norman State Park Saturday, rangers say

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Firefighters worked for hours to put out a large brush fire at Lake Norman State Park Saturday evening.

The Troutman Fire Department responded to the Iredell County park along the lake around 8 p.m.

In photos from Iredell Firewire, flames could be seen coming from the park. Grass and small trees could also be seen on fire.

They said the fire was in the swimming area of the park.

Officials said a campfire is likely what caused the fire, according to our partners at the Mooresville Tribune.

The remote location of the fire, on a peninsula between the swimming area and the picnic shelters at the end of Short Leaf Trail, made it difficult for firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

Firefighters said they had to dig a fire break to contain the fire to the peninsula and prevent it from spreading to the mainland sections of the park.

According to officials, around 19-acres of land was burned.

There were plans to burn off some of the debris last fall but the wet fall prevented that from taking place. Now, leaves and brush are making fire conditions worse.

“This is usually our busy fire season anyway,” said Danny Brasington, Iredell County assistant forest ranger. “We are asking people not to burn now.”