Woodstock - Kinsman Ridge Forest Fire

[peakbagger]

There is fire on the Kinsman Ridge trail near Lost River Gorge. The AT is reportedly closed.

Speculation is may have been a meteor strike that caused it.

http://www.wmur.com/article/brush-fire-burning-in-woodstock/12772320

 

[Tom Rankin]

You posted the wrong link... I think!

 

[blacknblue]

http://www.wmur.com/article/brush-fire-burning-in-woodstock/12772320

Let's try this one.

It will be interesting to check out the impact site, if indeed it was a meteor strike capable of producing a forest fire.

 

[srhigham]

Union Leader says it's on Dilly Cliff, which puts it very close to the Gorge.

 

[Stan]

I'd be less surprised if it were fireworks.

 

[Ken MacGray]

It's on Dilly Cliff, above Lost River. I was there this afternoon. I maintain Dilly Cliff Trail for the Forest Society, so this will be "interesting". WMUR is reporting that fire crews are using the trail to access the area. I guess it was dying down a bit earlier today, but then winds kicked up. I witnessed several large flare-ups where the forest just seemed to explode from a sudden surge of oxygen.

 

[Tom_Murphy]

It's on Dilly Cliff, above Lost River. I was there this afternoon. I maintain Dilly Cliff Trail for the Forest Society, so this will be "interesting". WMUR is reporting that fire crews are using the trail to access the area. I guess it was dying down a bit earlier today, but then winds kicked up. I witnessed several large flare-ups where the forest just seemed to explode from a sudden surge of oxygen.

View attachment 5874

I assume that the fire is hiding in the duff and we will need a good rain or snow event to fully extinguish it.

I have been rereading Danial Doan's "Our Last Backpack", and in the book, he mentions a childhood camp out where an overnight rain probably saved his life after leaving a fire unattended at bedtime.

 

[Ken MacGray]

Update from NH1: http://nh1.com/news/top-news/nh-forest-fire-grows-in-size-causing-utter-destruction

 

[sierra]

Update from NH1: http://nh1.com/news/top-news/nh-forest-fire-grows-in-size-causing-utter-destruction

Quote from the article "Utter destruction" lol. No, it's a natural occurrence and the forest usually comes out better for it. It's a tiny fire, it's funny to read the comments on facebook. I'm so sad, my mountains are burning, omg no. get a grip folks, it's going to be just fine. It will provide a unique chance to watch a forest recover. If it gets up in the 1000's of acres, you can start to worry.

 

[JoshandBaron]

Quote from the article "Utter destruction" lol. No, it's a natural occurrence and the forest usually comes out better for it. It's a tiny fire, it's funny to read the comments on facebook. I'm so sad, my mountains are burning, omg no. get a grip folks, it's going to be just fine. It will provide a unique chance to watch a forest recover. If it gets up in the 1000's of acres, you can start to worry.

#letitburn

 

[TJ aka Teej]

It's a tiny fire,

Over 50 Acres as of this morning.

 

[srhigham]

Went by there at noon Thursday and at 4:30. No flames visible but smoke seemed to expand over the day. At least three helicopters were grabbing water from the pond across the street, then going north and west (the Kinsman side) and approaching the fire from the south (the Woodstock side). The rangers seemed to be the law enforcement group in charge, having blocked off the AT parking lot. Lost River Gorge was the base camp for many vehicles (dozens).

Will post some photos in the next post.

 

[srhigham]

More pix

 

[Grey J]

Suspiciously close to the site where Barney and Betty Hill were abducted by aliens. I'm just saying. Meteor? We may never know the true story.

 

[ChrisB]

Burn Policy?

Will post some photos in the next post.

Great photos. Thanks.

I'm curious...

Why isn't there a "let it burn" policy in place for naturally occurring fires that do not threaten buildings, residences, etc. in New England forests?

Out west that now seems to be the approach being taken on Natl Forest lands.

And whose budget will be paying for all that helo time? Hopefully not overstretched F&G.

cb

 

[peakbagger]

Good Question Chris. Of course some of the burn was on privately owned land (SPNHF) so maybe that's what drove the response.

 

[srhigham]

In this particular case, it did threaten buildings. I bet the management at Lost River didn't like to see those flames over their heads. Perhaps also the AT passing through the fire zone had some influence on the decision.

 

[egilbe]

Apparently, it's still burning. I would have thought with all the rain we had last week, it would be out.

 

[Ken MacGray]

It's going to be burning until we either get days of soaking rains (which pose more problems) or a heavy snowfall. Here's my NETC report from an assessment visit on Sunday, per special permission from SPNHF, one of their Easement Stewards was with me:

http://www.newenglandtrailconditions.com/nh/viewreport.php?entryid=32740