Blue Mountain Fire

“Anybody have any info on where the fire is on Blue Mountain in Pa?”

“It's not very complete, but there is some info here. Scroll down to Pennsylvania.”

“Six miles east of Palmerton would put it near or in Little Gap, and if it's on the east side of the highway that is rocky terrain at its worst. Even west of the highway it is pretty rocky around there.

Probably won't kill much though.

Thanks Bit. Good link.”

“There is also one on Massanutten Mountain in Virginia near Edinburg Gap. It wasn't on the list however. Maybe it's under control today.”

“It may just be very small. They have a cutoff limit for what they consider to be a significant fire, I think it may be 100 acres.”

“Park Fire Should Be
Contained Wednesday

By WENDY PAGONIS
Daily News-Record

EDINBURG — The U.S. Forest Service says keep your fingers crossed. It hopes to have a blaze in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest contained by Wednesday.

Fire command chief Don Sawyer, a land-uses assistant with the forest service, says about 130 firefighters continued bulldozing lines around the blaze in Shenandoah County on Monday to fully enclose the flames. If the fire stays within those lines, Sawyer expects it to burn the remaining trees and brush within the nearly 200-acre block of land.

The blaze, called the Stumphole Fire, has been burning since at least Wednesday night, and forest officials believe it started with a lightning strike. The flames that once topped the mountain’s 2,400-foot elevation have since crawled down the east side of Massanutten Mountain, moving toward Fort Valley.

Firefighters fought the blaze in sunny, 100 degree-plus temperatures. They began at 7 a.m. and worked until 8 to 8:30 p.m., unable to work after dark because it was deemed too dangerous.

Sawyer says the terrain is rocky and steep. Where there are no boulders, rocks or cliffs, there is heavy brush.

"Brush is so thick you can’t walk through it. You have to crawl," Sawyer said.

The fire has fought tirelessly to stay burning, using fuel left by the gypsy moth and pine bark beetle. Both pests killed many trees in that area of the mountain long before lightning struck. Those trees left standing are dry like a forest of matches.

Thunderstorms provided rain to the area Monday night, but the National Weather Service predicts clear skies for the rest of the week.”

“Geo - here's a link to my local paper on the Blue Mountain fire:

Blue Mountain Fire Under Control”

“Not a very specific report. Loved this line:

"Homza said Bureau of Forestry officials will not know how much has burned until a satellite-generated map of the mountain, known as a Global Positioning System, is complete."

I'm trying to figure out whether the map is a Global Positioning System or the mounbtain is. The sentence is constructed such that the mountain is the Global Positioning System.”

“Blue Mountain must be some amorphous region somewhere near the edge of the Earth.

Fire on Blue Mountain

Oh yeah, that's that mountain way out there somewhere in the distance. Heck, I thought all that smoke was because a volcano erupted!”

“If I can, I'll take a ride up one night this week for a look-see.”

“Just don't fall over the edge of the world.”

“I'll be
carefullllllllllllllllllllllllll”

“And look out for snakes!”

“Saw a very brief piece on Channel 69 last night. They never identified the location either, but the brief video looked vaguely like the terrain at Little Gap.”

“Ok Geo - I got the scoop on the location. I took a ride up Blue Mountain Rd to where the AT crosses near Blue Mt Ski Area. I saw no sign of fire anywhere, and drove up to the ski area. The gate was closed so I hopped on my bike. Still nothing and started wondering if you were right about the amorphous region.

I went back to the AT parking area and saw a guy near the road. I stopped and asked him if he knew where the fire was. Boy, did I feel silly when he gave me a "DUH!" look because seconds after I asked, I noticed all the soot and radio equipment on him.

He was a fire fighter ending his shift. He was polite though and informed me that this fire is still burning and will be for some time. The AT is right smack in the middle of it. The location is about 1 1/2 miles south along the AT from where it crosses Blue Mt Rd.”

“This was in the Express-Times today:

"Firefighters from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry have tamed nearly 65 percent of a forest fire that raged all weekend in Lehigh Township.

Northampton County Emergency Management officials toured Blue Mountain's south slope Monday afternoon, officials said. "It looks much better up there compared to what we saw yesterday," Northampton County Emergency Management Director Nicholas Tylenda said Monday. "Looking at the mountain we saw very little smoke."

He estimated that 100 to 150 acres have burned since the blaze broke out Friday.

Firefighting efforts were set back Sunday after winds carried hot embers across fire lines on the south flank, allowing the fire to spread out of control for most of Sunday, fire officials said.

"Crews will be working with dozers throughout the night to improve lines behind some houses," said Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry Fire Duty Officer Kristen Homza.

Reconnaissance planes and helicopters dropped water on the flames Monday.
Homza said the flames are contained from spreading. However flames have moved underground, burning into the root system. She said the lack of rainfall could mean the fire will continue to burn, but not spread.

Homza said Bureau of Forestry officials will not know how much has burned until a satellite-generated map of the mountain, known as a Global Positioning System, is complete.

"According to recon flights, about 100 (acres) were burned," she said.

She said crews would continue to work 24 hours a day to monitor the fire.

Lightning likely sparked the blaze on the southern slope of Blue Mountain between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Friday, officials have said."”

“ouch”

“If my joggerfee is correct, that would be south and west of Little Gap?”

“You are correct sir.

Blue Mt / Little Gap is about 2 miles north of Danielsville. Even though the fire is 'south' along the AT, it's more west than south.”

“They count migrating raptors from the top of the ridge there. They had a big net strung up there one year to snag birds for banding.”