Though a brush fire in Watauga was briefly contained Wednesday afternoon, it jumped the fire line and continued to spread, requiring efforts of multiple agencies.
The fire was reported not long after 4 p.m. by property owner Brad McNeill, who said he saw smoke along the ridge line that divides his and neighbor Buzie Moffitt’s properties. He called Moffitt, who did not answer, and then he called 911.

The fire burned primarily on the North side of the property, which Moffitt owns, and blew onto McNeill’s side. Moffitt’s son-in-law Cody Richardson said he was concerned it could spread down the North face towards his home, but the winds pushed it Southeast.
Watauga volunteer firefighter Ernie Berry said arson is suspected as the cause of the fire, but the arsonist, motive and location of where it begun are unknown. Both Moffitt and McNeill said they had no idea what could have sparked it.
Because of the location of the driveway at a relatively new address, 651 Cripple Creek Rd., firefighters with the Watauga Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) had difficulty finding the driveway.
“I could hear them driving past but I couldn’t get off the phone with 911,” said McNeill.
Not long after Watauga VFD arrived, Carter County division of the United States Forest Service (USFS) was called. Fire trucks could not get up the hill, but four-wheel drive trucks and off-road vehicles brought in by USFS made the climb up the rutted dirt road.
Berry said they had the fire contained, but powerful winds carried it over the fire line. On the Southwest side of the mountain, he said the road helped to contain it.

USFS brought in a bulldozer and began clearing a line along the North face of the mountain, while crews cleared the Southeast side with shovels and leaf blowers. The wind continued to blow along the ridge, which is at about 1,500 feet elevation.
Sullivan County USFS was called to assist. Berry said USFS is staffed with fewer people in what are typically cooler and wetter months, but that with the unusually warm, dry weather, they needed the help of the neighboring county.
At 6 p.m., Berry reported a containment line was established, heavy winds continued atop the ridge, and USFS had begun backlighting a containment fire. At 7 p.m., he reported it was contained and safe.
Three other fires were reported between 5 and 6:30 p.m., one in the Poga Community, to which Elk Mills VFD responded; one along Powder Branch Rd.; and one at 459 Watauga Rd.