Multiple Agencies Respond to Fire at Woodmill Winery

VALE, N.C. - Early Sunday morning, multiple fire and emergency services agencies were dispatched to Woodmill Winery after reports of smoke and flame at the facility’s storage area, according to local authorities.

At approximately 4:20 a.m. on August 31, 2025, dispatchers received calls of visible smoke rising from the winery’s outbuilding, located just south of downtown Vale. Fire crews from Lincoln County, Catawba County, and the Vale Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene within minutes. Battalion Chief Sarah Mitchell of the Lincoln County Fire Marshal’s Office reported that the blaze had already spread to several barrels in the storage shed when firefighters began their attack.

“The quick response and coordinated effort of our local and neighboring departments prevented what could have been a much larger fire,” Mitchell said. Crews employed both interior and exterior hose lines, protecting adjacent production buildings and the main tasting room. By 5:15 a.m., the fire was declared under control, and firefighters remained on site for over two hours mopping up hot spots and ventilating smoke from the facility.

No injuries were reported among winery staff, visitors, or responding personnel. The Lincoln County Fire Marshal’s Office has launched an investigation to determine the fire’s origin and cause. Initial observations suggest the blaze may have begun due to an electrical fault within the storage area, but officials cautioned that the probe is ongoing.

Woodmill Winery, renowned for its muscadine and fruit wines, announced earlier this month that it would host its annual “Fall Wine Festival” on September 20. In a statement released after the fire, co-owner Laura Cagle assured guests that the main production and event spaces sustained no significant damage and that plans for the upcoming festival remain unchanged.

As investigators continue to examine the site, Woodmill Winery operations are expected to resume normal hours Monday morning, with a brief closure of the storage building for safety inspections and repairs.