Wildfires in the Smokies and SE

Thoughts and hopes for those affected by all the wildfires in the SE, and the Smokies. Some tough going this week. Hope our members in the areas are safe.

Sounds like Gatlinburg was in the path as well as Dollywood complex. Rocky Mt Nat Park closed " indefinitely".

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-as-flames-lick-roads/?utm_term=.6d6a3185bbba

We hear about the Western wildfires yearly and expect them. Never good, but predictable.
Seeing these in some areas we have ridden thru in the East is shocking and I am assuming historic? Do not recall so many eastern fires covered on the news.
I know we have some woodlands fire fighters here...what say

The woods are DRY. My pastures are gone. 200 year old trees are dying. The southeast is in a drought that is record breaking for the number of years it has been going on.

OK simple statements for sure and there is a simple cause for sure for the fires. Here in northwest Georgia we have had NO rain for 68 days and 1 1/2" since May, and that was a 10 minute downpour that ran off faster than it came. The cause for the fires is the same in the west, lightning strikes, spontaneous combustion, and of course man. We have been feeding hay since July instead of long about now. The price of hay has risen from $30 dollars or so for a round bale to now in the 70's.

Now is the time to stock up your freezers if you eat beef. The cattle fellas are selling off their herds and some are having to get rid of their mommas. This of course will in winter begin to effect the price at the grocery store. We bought a feeder calf the other day that we will grow out in a 120 day program for 80 cents per pound.

The smoke from the fires up by Helen and to the north of there, 60 miles away, brought vision down to less than a 1/4 of a mile for several days last week. Our land is in the Chatahoochee National Forest and the feds and state, through the county have a MANDATORY 6 month and $1000 fine for any kind of open fire or dumping of ashes.

Climate change, global warming, man caused changes, THE APOCALYSE??????????????

Dennis,
Sounds like you are describing TX the last 8 years as well. Finally got some relief, but ranchers definitely took some hits. Having to buy hay just seems wrong.
We see century old oaks dead in areas that changed the landscape.And two huge fires in the Lost Pines area east of Austin also changed the landscape and peoples lives.One massive grassland/juniper wildfire was upwind and too close to us a few summers back.Could smell and see the smoke as well as the glow at night until they got it controlled.
Just sad seeing folks hurting already, hurting even more now. See some rain in the Gatlinburg area today...hope its helping.

henzilla said:

Having to buy hay just seems wrong.

Click to expand...

Not if you're a grain farmer in PA. Lot's of acreage up here that'll grow hay.

A fire just outside of Asheville -

[URL=http://s172.photobucket.com/user/gfspencer/media/Fire%20on%20the%20Mountain.jpg.html][/URL]

The rains the last few days have helped the North Carolina mountains. A lot of our fires are contained and one major fire is no longer burning.

I just checked with Dan Dickie at GSMotorent in Townsend. Dan says they are OK but Gatlinburg got hit big time. I knew about Gatlinburg and was worried about Townsend since it is only about 20 miles away.

We spent Thanksgiving in Dillard, GA and we experienced several areas where there were fires and smoke in the mountains. The motel we stayed in had several firefighters from all over the country staying there. The few I spoke to said most of the smoke in Dillard was from controlled burns, and that most of that area was under control. Also, I was told most of the fires were set intentionally...just can't get my mind around why anyone would do that. My riding jacket smells like smoke! It was 16 degrees at certain places in the mountains Sunday morning when we left ...thank goodness for Gerbings!

Yeah Darlin the smoke in the jacket is lousy; but maybe it brings back goooood memories of that Dillard House cookin................

Hey Dennis . Yes, we had really good food while there and the scenery was beautiful!