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WILKES COUNTY, N.C. — A forest fire has taken over 100 acres of mountainside outside Wilkesboro, near Rendezvous Mountain.

The North Carolina Forest Service first learned of the fire around 8 a.m. Wednesday. They believe it started sometime overnight, and it had burned about 20 acres by the time they arrived at the top of the mountain.

The Forest Service said this is the “largest fire Wilkes County, N.C., has seen in years.”

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the area affected was up to about 100 acres, but it was about 80 percent contained.

About 50 firefighters used dozers and chainsaws to create fire lines around the fire, which separate the fire from potential fuels, like leaves and dry wood. They then intentionally burned some areas which could have otherwise caught fire and threatened nearby homes.

Officials say they expect some hot spots for a couple of days.

As of now, there is no word on how the fire started, or if it’s suspicious.