Forest Fire near Slate Run

Picture taken from deck of Manor

There appears to be a forest fire on the General Store Side of Pine Creek. This picture was taken by the Manor from their deck. According to them it isn't out yet, but has gone over the mountain into the Bonner Run area. Lots of dry brush and trees down from tornado back in 2011. Hopefully, they will be able to get it out. No news as to what started the fire at this point. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

We have had rain since. And fire was contained in above occurrence near Slate Run.

Rain to be coming in tonight and tomorrow

There was still smoke on the mountain to the South of Mine Hole Rd where it intersects with Leetonia Rd., this morning and the road was still blocked at Mine Hole. The road barriers have been taken down at Fahynestock Rd. With rain coming tonight and tomorrow this will hopefully be the end of seeing smoke coming out of the woods other than from a proper campfire or chimney. I have enjoying the comments of so many of the camp people who watch this blog and new ones who have just found it and are enjoying the mutual sharing of history and activities in and around Leetonia. Stop in and see the mountain girls when you visit Leetonia and share anything you would like posted on the blog or just come for a good talk.

Fire Update

Fahneystock and Mine Hole road are still closed, due to some hot spots still burning in high places they cannot reach. The forestry service said, however, people who own camps will be allowed past the barriers to get to their camps. It is doubtful that the barriers will be down before the weekend at this point. I have inspired another person to start a blog. Check his out Peter's Camp Report
He has a picture from Spinning Wheel Vista of the burn area.

At least 4000 acres burnt....But no cabins lost!

These pictures were taken today all except the last one. The first picture is on 414 after the narrow where the fire started on Saturday afternoon. Right now they are thinking a cigarette tossed from a car started the fire.

The fire ran up the canyon ridge towards West Rim Road and Mine Hole. By 11 pm it was running on the ridge for several miles. The firefighters pulled off the mountain during the night. In the morning the wind picked up in a South/Southeasterly direction which directed it up Cedar Run Creek. It jumped Mine Hole Road
were they had planned on stopping it and it began
eating up the woods towards Fahneystock.

The plan then changed to stopping it at Fahneystock. When I went to check it Sunday morning at 8:35 I saw nothing near Fahneystock, like I did this morning. So Sunday afternoon I was more confident it wouldn't make it to Leetonia. I am glad I didn't know it got as far as it did. If it would have made it past Fahneystock, it would have been clear sailing to Leetonia.

The second and third pictures show the side of Fahneystock, burnt to the road for at least a mile
up Fahneystock road. The third picture is a camp
I just finished remodeling last year owned by Michelle Foray. You can still see my sign on the side of the road that the camp is on. As much as I like repeat business I am glad I didn't get any this way.

The fire stopped at the spinning wheel area of Fahneystock and the next burned area I saw was at the end of Spinning Wheel Trail on West Rim going towards Mine Hole. Driving from West Rim down Mine Hole is a mystery from the road you don't see any thing burnt close to the road on either side, but on the side towards fahneystock you can see a burn area.This is where the fire
jumped and it must have jumped high.

In fact there it jumped so high there were accusations that the fire was set and this was a new fire. I don't think I believe that. I think the wind was capable of throwing a spark far enough to make it look that way. All of the camps along the first part of West Rim, Mine Hole, and Fahneystock were evacuated if anyone was there.
Fortunately none were lost. I truly believe the rain saved us. I don't think they could have held it from jumping again without a little assist from Mother Nature.

The last picture is a view from Cushman View showing the smoke(none of that is fog) from the fire on Sunday. It got a little tough on breathing until the rain came. There isn't an official acreage count yet, but one of the DNR people told me at least 4000 acres were burnt. Their explanation for the bad communication. It covered different forest districts and only the Williamsport office had accurate information. I called Wellsboro and they didn't know anything and what they did know was wrong. Yet, I was informed that I should call them for any information and if I was in danger someone would come to the camp and knock on my door. They didn't say if that would be before or after the cabin burns. Sorry, but I am a little cynical and angry about there communication abilities. Nothing on the radio, nothing with the State Police a big nothing. So Matt Baker called me and I am writing this up for him to help facilitate some better system. I don't want to be here for a knock on my door that comes too late. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out .

Saved by the rain!

Well at this point the rain saved the day as you can see it pouring off the back porch. Thanks for all of your prayers, thoughts and offers of places to stay. It makes you appreciate good friends and neighbors the value of which can never be burnt away by a fire.

On the darker side of this story, the multitudes of volunteer fire departments that showed up to help us out were poorly treated by the State. Someone needs to answer for the lack of concern shown to our firefighters, and property owners. There is little or no communication from the State to us or the firefighters. I am not sure of the reasons for this, but our lives and property are being placed at risk all for who controls the scene. I spent all day trying to get information without going directly to the fire and had little success. It is not very comforting to smell smoke all day and night and not know if you are in danger. I talked to the State Police, the Forestry Service and the local fire departments and found out less than I did smelling the air. We have no disaster plan and little ability to find out information in a timely manner. Having a working disaster plan is something that cannot wait. This is the second time in three years we have been threatened by forest fire and the second time it has been handled in the same manner. Enough already! We need a plan immediately that communicates with people, and best uses the generous resources of our volunteer Fire Departments.

This doesn't need to be difficult. We are not a town of millions but less than 100. Anyone who has ever been part of a small community knows that there are a few key people the State could keep informed and everyone would know. Why is that so hard for them to do. We don't need an elaborate evacuation plan.... we know how to get out of the woods... we live here. Why send people up here who don't know the woods to give us a plan. Just tell us what is going on. Involve us and we can save ourselves and others. This plan needs to respect our local firefighters....use them and not abuse them by making them stand around while our forest burns. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I am generally not a protester or a complainer, but fire scares me enough to make me one.

I know this probably won't make much news, since Tuesday is election day. But if you have a voice after you vote. Call Matt Baker and let him know you want to be safe in this Canyon. Now is the time for bravery before someone dies for lack of a plan. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out and sleeping better tonight!

The Fire Continues...

This morning I woke up to heavy smoke coming up the valley and no information as to where the fire was. I called the Forest Ranger office and was told the fire was in Leetonia and to evacuate. As usual this information was not correct. But not knowing this I started the usual panic of what to take what to leave can I keep the cabin from burning.

I looked around the cabin and realize that even though we are in a fairly open area I have a lot of burnable stuff near the cabin. I heat mainly with wood and there is 6 cords of season wood and 10 cords of new logs in the front lawn, there was also a lot of dry brush in the ditch along the house before the creek. The hopelessness of realizing there is little you can do in a short period to change your fire risk was overwhelming. I set the sprinkler on to start wetting things down and took a trip down the road to evaluate how much time I had.

The fire was not in Leetonia in fact I drove 5 miles to Mine Hole road before I found fireman from the various departments of Avis, and Trout Run who barely knew where they were let alone the status of the fire. As a permanent resident of this woods this is nothing new when it comes to fire. The ability of the State to get information to us and volunteers is paramount to a disaster waiting to happen. We can't get local television, nothing is on the radio, the firefighters and the Forest Rangers know nothing and this places much of us and our property in danger. I am not sure how this can be solved but it needs to be addressed before lives are lost. Mountain girl, Paula, fired UP!