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Investigators questioning if Balls Creek Campground fire was high school feud

Investigators are looking into the community belief the fire was set as a "retaliative measure" between Bandys High School and Maiden High School.

NEWTON, N.C. — The joint task force investigating the Balls Creek Campground fire in Catawba County is reviewing a community belief that the fire may have been set as a "retaliative measure" between two high schools, a Catawba County official said Thursday.

"It is a belief in the Bandys and Maiden communities that the fire may have been intentionally set as a retaliative measure related to animosity between students at Bandys High School and Maiden High School," Karyn Yaussy, Catawba County Emergency Management Coordinator The task force is investigating this allegation, which as of the time of this release, has neither been corroborated nor refuted."

Investigators stressed they are reviewing the allegation and cannot confirm or deny it.

Dr. Matthew Stover, the Catawba County Schools Superintendent released a statement on Thursday afternoon.

I have received questions and read media statements which allege there was an incident or altercation between students at the Maiden-Bandys High School football game this past Friday night. To my knowledge, no such incident or altercation occurred between Maiden and Bandy students at the football game. I have also received questions and seen media statements alleging that the recent Balls Creek Campground fire was intentionally set in retaliation for an incident at the football game. The cause of the fire at Balls Creek Campground is being investigated thoroughly by law enforcement and Catawba County Schools has no information regarding any evidence that has been collected relating to the fire.

Don Brown, sheriff of Catawba County, also made a statement on Thursday:

Allegations reported today in the media are being investigated by my office, the Fire Marshal’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. All leads are being investigated. Several students from both Bandys and Maiden High schools have been questioned and deemed to have no involvement. To date none of these leads or allegations have been substantiated. It is important that our communities not draw conclusions based on allegations or any investigative efforts we are undertaking.

More than a dozen fire departments responded to the fire late Sunday night.

40 of the 295 tents and cabins at the campground were destroyed, according to the Catawba County Emergency Services. Nine others were damaged by the flames.  

RELATED: Massive fire at historic Balls Creek Campground deemed suspicious by task force

NBC Charlotte talked to Bob Drum, who said his wooden tent was among the many destroyed on the fire. Drum said the tents are part of a 160-year tradition.

“It’s (the tents) handed down from generation to generation to generation, my tent was previously owned by relatives of my father,” Drum said. “I’ve attended camp meeting my entire life and I’m 68 now.”

No injuries were reported.

The Balls Creek Campground was established in 1853 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, according to the campground's website.

Each August, large groups of people come to the campground and live in the wooden tents for about a week during a religious meeting. 

The task force considers this fire to be suspicious and the cause is officially undetermined. Anyone with information related to this criminal investigation should call the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 464-5241.

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