STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — A wildfire in Stokes County that started Nov. 18 prompted evacuations but spared a youth camp.

About 50 people evacuated the Mountain Top Youth Camp, a Christian camp for boys and girls, as the Sauratown Mountain fire approached. Twelve homes also were evacuated. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Mountain Top Youth camp was evacuated during the Sauratown Mountain fire, but no injuries were reported

  • The director of the youth camp says the flames narrowly missed it and credits firefighting crews with saving the camp

  • The fire on Friday was estimated to be burning on 833 acres and was 69% contained, according to the N.C. Forest Service

As the fire blazed in the mountains, it barely missed the camp, and its executive director called it a miracle. 

“The wind had shifted north, which would mean it's going to be coming our way,” Barry Brady, executive director of the camp, said. “They gave us the call to start making preparations to evacuate.”

Brady said this was when he realized the fire could impact the camp. 

“We were told not to expect the camp to survive," he said "They say about 8 p.m., the wind shifted away from this building, the big lodge building, and that's really what saved our camp.” 

Brady has been connected to this camp since 1980 and he’s grateful that it was saved by the firefighters, first responders and forestry workers. 

“What they were doing Sunday night and Monday is really dedication because they were out here and they're the ones that were really watching the fire and trying to get the fire to go away from the camp,” he said.

The wildfire on Friday was covering 833 acres and was 69% contained, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.