Multiple departments battle intense forest fire in Vass

March 20, 2026

A beautiful Friday afternoon turned into a smoky haze in Moore County when a large forest fire broke out in the town of Vass.

The crew working the daily shift at the Cypress Pointe Fire Department was returning from a call when they noticed heavy smoke in the area. After a quick investigation, they realized they were dealing with a very large fire in a thick wooded area between Vass-Carthage Road and Union Church Road near Foster Lane and Crain’s Creek Middle School.

Multiple departments from across the county were dispatched to help contain the blaze that eventually burned nearly 150 acres. The North Carolina Forest Service was dispatched with two plows, two spotter planes, and a helicopter utilized for water drops.

Brush trucks and tankers were used to protect the homes along Union Church Road. Additionally, a helicopter was used to shuttle water from a pond between Foster Lane and Crain’s Creek Middle School.

Officials on scene told Sandhills Sentinel that the quick response and hard work of firefighters and all personnel thankfully prevented any homes from being lost in the massive fire. One abandoned structure suffered damage.

The town of Vass and the surrounding area were filled with smoke for several hours even after the blaze was contained and extinguished.

Multiple departments battle intense forest fire in Vass Friday

Sandhills Sentinel reporter Daniel Gwyn remained on scene for hours taking photos of emergency crews at work.

The cause of the fire is not known at this time and is under investigation.

Along with multiple fire departments, Moore County Public Safety and the Vass Police Department responded to the scene.

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Daniel Gwyn | Reporter
Article, photos, and videos by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Daniel Gwyn. Daniel has been reporting breaking news for Sandhills Sentinel since 2020.