Red River Gorge is burning?!

“WINCHESTER, Ky., Sept. 7, 2007 – Due to a small uncontrolled wildfire, Forest Supervisor Jerome Perez has temporarily closed a popular rock climbing area within the Clifty Wilderness of the Red River Gorge. The closed area is a remote location known as “Funk Rock City” to rock climbers.

An emergency closure order was signed into effect on Friday, Sept. 7 to promote public safety in the area. No persons are permitted in the closed area except for firefighters and law enforcement officers in official duty capacity.

“The closure of this area is temporary,” said Forest Supervisor Perez. “It will reopen for public use once the fire is extinguished and the area is determined as safe for visitors.

“Burning snags can be especially hazardous. Once a tree burns at the roots, it doesn’t take much for it to fall,” said Perez. “We want to take every precaution to ensure public safety.”

Firefighters are hiking two miles over rugged terrain to access the fire location.

“The cause of the fire is believed to be lightning,” said Mitch Gandy, Fire Management Officer with the Daniel Boone National Forest. “The forest has experienced at least a dozen fires from lightning strikes this past summer, which is extremely uncommon in this part of the country.

“The persistent drought has set the stage for extreme fire conditions. Unless we start getting some rain, we’re going to see more wildland fires occur,” said Gandy.

#

Attention media: Please contact this office prior to sending reporters to the fire location.
The area is remote and not easily accessible. There are a couple of overlooks near the Sky Bridge Recreation Area where smoke from the fire may be observed.

This fire was reported yesterday afternoon. It is a very slow moving burn with low flame lengths. The fire size is currently estimated at five acres. This fire is not threatening any recreation facilities or structures.


Here's the link: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/newsroom/09_07_07closure.shtml

Damn, we were bushwhacking in this area not that long ago in a rainstorm. Seems odd to think of it burning. I hope it is out now. Has anyone else heard about this? WTF? I am very glad to hear that it was not caused by irresponsible campfires though. I know this is date the 7th, but I can't believe no one heard about this.”

“jimmy san and i explored here on my last backpacking trip. we had nothing to do with the fire”

“yeah, it was closed when i was there last weekend. we were talking about going there as there are some really tall and sweet slab climbs out there as well as a few great trad routes. we weren't able to climb a route we started out there two months ago so we wanted to go back and try again. it's a good thing we read about the closure before we set out on the approach!

that area is indeed very wet and full of really green vegetation. if there was a serious fire i can only imagine how awful the smoke would be with all the rhododendron out there. it's very dry at the base of funk rock city but it's hard to imagine lightning striking at the base of the wall.

i wouldn't say it's 2 miles to funk rock city from the road but it's more than a mile for sure.

i am puzzled by this. i am trying to think of a 5 acre area 2 miles from the road that would be a sufficient hazard to close funk rock city. my bet is the fire isn't AT funk rock city but close enough to warrant closure of the area. i'll look forward to exploring the area to see what happened once the area is reopened.

i am not sure i buy the lightning story.”

“Jimmy's bourbon caught on fire”

“prolly some stoner/climber who emptied his bowl over the side from the top, and smoldering pot ashes fell onto dry leaves protected by the cliff, and a slight breeze started an inferno. Yep it's all about those slob climbers and their destructive campsites...











(This was posted as sarcasm for Jimmysan only. If you take me seriously you are an idiot.)”

“i don't get it? emptied his bowl of what? soup? cold cereal? are you saying he was eating at the top of the climb and whatever he was eating in his bowl somehow caught fire when he dumped it over the cliff?”

“PSSHHH! Just like a stoooopid climber to not know that rehydrated powdered milk will burst into flames if it comes into contact with chlorophyl after a long fall. Jeesh! Everyone knows that! LOL!”

“When iron fortified cereal scrapes against rock what would you expect but a few sparks. Basic fire starting 101 if I remember right....”

“basics for a backpacker, but them dumbazz climbers would prolly never know about fire building since they all just sleep at the pizza place (cuz stoners get the munchies don't ya know) instead of actually going into the back country.”

“I hope it rains, there is a huge party planned for climbers, like me, ehehehe, soon.”

“that cereal might even hit a backpacker emptying their bowElS in a not-deep-enough cathole at the bottom of the climb next to their illegal camp site.

(exit spelling nazi)”