| Author | Message | ||
     Glitch |
 Well, so people bought a little property not too far away from ours. We've not even had a chance to meet them, as they seem to only come twice a month or so. Not sure I want to meet them now. Not sure I'd be able to keep my mouth shut. They were up at their property this weekend, and were gone by Sunday. Monday morning this was happening. It don't look like much, but the area was pretty big, and these are all taken at our property.  This is at Connie's (Bambi's) almost finished studio  This is just down the hill from the studio.  This is just up the hill.  This is near the studio.  This one is too. You'd think that since the forest fire WE JUST HAD was only 6 miles away... Insult to injury, we now have roads where we didn't, because the fire department had to use a bulldozer. Bless the fire fighters! They said they were going to stomp their asses just like they should have stomped out their camp fire.  | ||
| Macbuell |
That statement from the GIF, sadly, represents a large portion of the general population. | ||
| Crusty |
When I rode to Buellvemberfest last November, I went through a good bit of the area where the fires were burning. The smoke was so thick in places, I couldn't see more than 100 yards. I was following a real scow of a semi through the smoke, and the driver flicks a lit cigarette out the window onto the road. WTF!?!! What did he think all the smoke was from and how did he think it started? There are some really brain dead morons out there. | ||
| K12pilot |
I would torch their house!! They wouldn't be back for a while.... Glad all are safe by you!! (Message edited by k12pilot on February 14, 2017) | ||
| Glitch |
We're in a really small community. I'm sure word is all over already. Our closest neighbor works at the post office, I'm sure she will be full of information as soon as she gets home. People in these parts, aren't really tolerant of blatant stupidity. I'm just glad Dan caught it in time, its still smoldering, and its supposed to be raining tonight thank goodness, so hopefully I will sleep better tonight. Dan (Kdan) and the Fire Dept are the heroes of this saga. This is not the adventure I was looking for! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Have the FD send a bill to the new neighbors. Money ALWAYS makes people pay attention. Glad they got it in time, glad you're getting some rain tonight. And I suppose...I'm glad there wasn't a convergence of fire, neighbors, and any firearm you may or may not own...  | ||
| 86129squids |
Dang, Glitch- it's time to have a "Come to Jesus" talk with these new neighbors. Sure glad that Kdan et al caught it in time. Morons. | ||
| Etennuly |
Arson is arson. Not controlling a fire, then leaving it unattended is more than stupid. They are lucky they did not kill someone. I would think they owe you for property damage. | ||
| Glitch |
As promised, its a frog choker outside, so we're good, no fear of it getting started again. Now when the rain ends, we're hoping everything don't just wash away. The Fire Dept is on the job. They will be billed, bulldozers in the woods aint cheap, especially when stupidity is involved. You are right Vern, no way around it. | ||
| Buellish |
I'm thankful no one was hurt and your cabin didn't burn!Are you and Ann staying up there full time now? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Damn Glitch! I hate to see those pics! I hope to much didn't get ruined. You and Ann have been working so hard and I'm sure you are understating your rage... | ||
| Glitch |
I'm up there as much as possible. At the end of the lease on this house we'll both be up there FULL TIME! I can't wait, and the lease will be up this year! Adventure awaits! The Fire Dept was really quick to respond, no one here has gotten over the forest fires yet. NO ONE wants to go through that again. Kudos to them! So far as I can see most all the damage is across the fire break we made during the last fire. Its mostly the forest floor on our side, the other side is somewhat crispy. Rage? Yes I'm raging. It was so close! The Fire Dept are raging also. All four of us have put A LOT of work and soul into everything. In my mind, I saw it all go up in smoke. I have to admit, I was scared to death. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Are you sure it's negligent? I don't want to be "that guy" but fires do start without cigarette idiots and campfire idiots. Just, you know... much less often. | ||
| Glitch |
As far as how it stated, I'm just going by what the Fire Dept said. We're literally out in the woods, raw land. It's really easy to spot where it started. Its ok, you're not "that guy", you're just asking questions. Good ones at that. | ||
| 86129squids |
Looking forward, what can be done to re-seed/re-plant the area and stabilize the soils? Surely there are pro-active ways and means to try and protect the land out there... A little while ago there was a local story about a Gatlinburg man who put some serious work into protecting his cabin from wildfires- IIRC he had lived out west and been involved in firefighting there before moving to E TN... ahhh, here ya go. Gotta love Google! http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee /2016/12/18/preparation-saved-home-sevier-county-f ire/95463706/ Very good story. Makes me think of maybe doing a "community service" kind of effort... certainly get everyone's kids involved/educated, then after a day's labor, maybe a potluck group dinner? I'm certainly not the guy to give advice in your situation, Dave, but the fellow in the above article is certainly an inspiration. Keep us posted on how things develop- I'm curious how much $$$ the fire department is gonna bill those a**hats. | ||
| 86129squids |
"Bless the firefighters"... AMEN and +1000! I grew up with asthma and severe allergies, didn't outgrow them until I hit my 20's. Just talking/thinking about bad air, smoke, or breathing problems causes a reflex to take a deeeep breath... the men and women who face the fires and smoke to protect the greater good really are angels. I couldn't do it. I rode up into Pigeon Forge the weekend after the major wildfire event, just to see for myself what was going on- it was a gorgeous day, and I had a great ride through a little backroad that few other than locals know about to get there. Rode almost all the way to light #8, where the public was being turned back. At the entry to the "spur", which takes you from PF into Gatlinburg, there was still quite a bit of smoke from minor fires still burning... I turned around to come back home. Got behind a little old lady in a Nissan sedan, yakking on her cell phone, window half down, puffing her ciggy, then flicking the ashes off the ciggy as she drove! Yak, puff, flick, yak puff, flick. Sevier county disabled plates even. I wanted SO bad to ride by and kick her door in. Grrr! Whenever I leave my house, I now try to stay mindful that I'm surrounded by moronic behavior EVERYWHERE. Maybe I'll survive the trip... ? | ||
| Greg_e |
Last I knew, those who inadvertently start a forest fire can be held liable for all damages and expenses which could include reseeding the ground to prevent erosion and firefighting costs. People have gone to jail for this, but normally only happens when other people die from the fire. Would be interesting to read the fire department's report after law enforcement looks it over. | ||
| 86129squids |
Oh, and BTW, it was reported that the Gatlinburg wildfires were started by a couple of teenagers playing with matches. I was once a hooligan kid, a "latchkey kid" as my mom worked her butt off to raise me. Luckily I listened enough... "There but for the grace of God go I." I'm so grateful for the way I was raised, and for my life so far. Lord knows I've been down bad roads, and rode them out somehow. Pray for those kids and their families in Gatlinburg. Dave, see about talking with these new neighbors peacefully and with grace- they may not know what they have done. Hold back anger until it is needed. | ||
| Airbozo |
I am torn on what would make me more irate, Someone who started a fire intentionally or through ignorance... OK, the first one. But the second is close due to the location and history. | ||
| Alfau |
He might have unintentionally done you a favor. Looks like you'll need a plan for future events. Prescribed burning is the "controlled" application of fire to a particular area of landscape. ... reduce fire fuel hazards in areas | ||
| Glitch |
I don't think fresh sewn pastures will benefit much. But yeah, most of the work we've done up there is "cleaning up" for just such an emergency. The property directly behind us is managed forest. Which means every 30 years, they come in and harvest the hard woods. They came and harvested the 1000+ acres they own year before last, so no real danger there. There's 65 acre piece of land right next to us, that's been for sale ever since I can remember. Mainly because its mostly beaver swap. Our new neighbors, bought a 10 acre lot. I'll not go off on 'em. I just be real condescending, and let Dan do the talking. He's good at making people see the light. | ||
| Ourdee |
We all make mistakes. If the neighbors are repentant and teachable, They may make good neighbors. I am glad you are OK. When people are genuine and ask me to forgive them, I do. | ||
| Glitch |
When people are genuine and ask me to forgive them, I do. Oh yeah, no doubt. They'll just have to suffer the consequences, just like anybody else. Whether they're locals, or not. I aint gonna make war with nobody, its not like they aint enough room for everyone. | ||
| Blake |
Dang. That was too close! Campfire left unattended got loose? | ||
| Glitch |
They were burning brush they had cut during the summer time, is the rumor. This may help. The background is the National Forest Then ya got the valley floor. Then the ridge in the foreground is what we're talking about. Bottom right is the beaver swap. The back ridge, is all the managed forest. We're in the middle of everything.  | ||
| Blake |
Nice! Just imagine if you hadn't cleaned out your underbrush. How many acres ended up burnt? |
