Forest Fire in the Gunks?

[mountainmeijin]

While working today, I noticed an enormous pillar of grayish-white smoke which looked to be rising from the ridge a bit south of the pass where Rt. 44 crosses. It was rising thousands of feet above the ridge before turning and drifting in the wind.

The smoke has remained all day, and an enormous, long streak of white is now drifting across the sky to the southeast from the ridge.

I can't think of anything else that would put out so much smoke. Anyone else noticed this?

[Rockledge]

Daily Freeman reported a forest fire there yesterday. 44/55 was supposedly closed for a while.

[mountainmeijin]

Still burning pretty good, then.

Let's hope for those thunderstorms on Sunday/Monday.

[hermit]

I was out on my bike today and noticed it from the Res.. It looked quite large.

[Tmax]

I just got an e-mail from a climbing group that says the fire is between Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting and that Minnewaska park is closed!

[mountainmeijin]

Well, as long as they're keeping at it. I wonder how it got started?

[MattC]

And here I am, the local guy and I didn't even know! I guess I forgot to look in that direction the last couple of days!

If it was right between the two lakes, I wouldn't be surprised if it was caused by a person. The Gunks of course tend to stay very dry (the hemlock-lined clove bottoms being exceptions) and have always been fire-prone. After the recent hot, dry weather, I'm sure conditions were ripe.

Funny, I was just hiking in the Gunks two days ago after work, although in a different area. I climbed Bonticou Crag and then walked the Northeast Ridge and doubled back on the Table Rocks trail. Several of the fields in the Spring Farm area have been intentionally burned in the past couple years as part of the "prescribed burn" program.

Fire has been and remains part of the Gunks, whether natural or human caused, intentional or accidental. I'm not suggesting that a wildfire is a good thing of course, and I truly hope everyone fighting the fire remains safe. However, it should be noted the Ridge does contain plant species that will do well after a fire.

Matt

[mudhook]

Lots of smaller fires around also. We had one on Plattekill Mt (thur)that actually burned into the woods from its start in a field,which is an indication of how dry the forests are( they usually stop at the woods line).Be careful, only you and mother nature ,can start a fire, although I do get to hear a lot of other excuses/causes.
With last Aprils ice storm damage,and the recent dry spell, there is plenty of dry fuel for a big fire.

[Rockledge]

Fire has been and remains part of the Gunks, whether natural or human caused, intentional or accidental. I'm not suggesting that a wildfire is a good thing of course, and I truly hope everyone fighting the fire remains safe. However, it should be noted the Ridge does contain plant species that will do well after a fire.

Matt

Agreed. Not advocating brush fires, and I certainly don't want to see anyone hurt or property destroyed, but the indigenous peoples in North America were well acquainted with the benefits of "controlled" burns and allowing the land to reclaim itself.

I just hope it doesn't get out of control given the dry conditions. My yard is a "dust bowl" right now.

[mountainmeijin]

Next week will be wetter, hopefully, once the cold front moves through. I just hope the lightning doesn't spark anything more...

[hermit]

Got back from a 40 mile bike ride around the res.,and the smoke is not as much as it was yesterday.I will be on Van Wyck tomorrow,and check it out. Years ago the locals used to burn the mtns. for a greater yield of blueberries.It will be good picking in that area in years to come.

[MattC]

I just heard that it's still going and it's up to 3000 acres! Also heard that it had started as a controlled burn and got out of hand due to wind. My source on this is just some people I was talking to at Bacchus, so please don't quote me on this. I'll be anxious to read the whole story.

Matt

[Rockledge]

I saw an alert from the NWS stating over 2300 acres burned. They are urging people in the area with breathing problems to remain indoors. Dry weather looks like it will continue for several more days also. Hopefully the wind will remain fairly calm.

[Mark Schaefer]

The latest newspaper updates mention 2300 acres burned as of 4pm Saturday, April 19. The fire is 60% contained. The cause is still under investigation. Crews are working around the clock. There have been no injuries. Only one building, a ranger hut, has been destroyed. Route 44/55 and Minnewaska State Park remain closed.

I heard an early report that the fire had started near one of the northwest facing scenic overlooks along Route 44/55. The Kingston Freeman article stated it was burning parallel to Route 44/55 (an online photo appeared to confirm that). Most of the photos seem to indicate that the fire is on the west side and below the crest of the ridge. It appears to be above Route 44/55, and perhaps entirely west of the Jenny Lane Trail. Several other early reports described the fire as "between Lakes Minnewaska and Awosting", however, it appears the area affected may be west of both lakes.

Articles:
Kingston Freeman, April 18 (http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19495981&BRD=1769&PAG=461)
Middletown Times Herald-Record, April 19 (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NY_BRUSH_FIRE_NYOL-?SITE=NYMID&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)
Poughkeepsie Journal, April 19 (http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/NEWS01/80418040&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL)

Middletown Times Herald-Record photo galleries:
April 18 (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/_flash/gallery/gallery.html&Avis=TH&Dato=20080417&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=417009&Ref=PH)
April 19 (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/_flash/gallery/gallery.html&Avis=TH&Dato=20080418&Kategori=MEDIA01&Lopenr=418006&Ref=PH)

(edit) Some minor Sunday morning updates:
Kingston Freeman, April 20 (http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19500830&BRD=1769&PAG=461)
Middletown Times Herald-Record, April 20 (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080420/NEWS/804200338)
Poughkeepsie Journal, April 20 (http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080420/NEWS01/804200345&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL)

Fire reportedly 75-80% contained, 5 miles from Cragsmoor:
Kingston Freeman, April 20 (http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19501886&BRD=1769&PAG=461)
Middletown Times Herald-Record, April 20 (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080420/NEWS/80420004)
Poughkeepsie Journal, April 20 (http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080420/NEWS01/80420008)

[gfxsean]

This article is saying that the current weather conditions (cooler temps and increased humidity) are helping crews fight the Minnewaska State park fire.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1350880~Weather_change_helps_crews_in_upstate_NY_b attle_fire.html?cid=rss-New_York_Headlines

80% contained now and thankfully no homes lost or injuries reported.

[mountainmeijin]

That's good to know. When the highway reopens, I'll have to check out the area.

[TFR]

That's good to know. When the highway reopens, I'll have to check out the area.The Catskill 3500 Club Yahoo Group received a post from a hike leader who is also a fire fighter. He states:

"Don't look for the park to open too soon. 44/55 will be closed for
awhile. Yesterday our fire dept(Liberty) me included spent some time
there. We protected home on 44/55 as the fire came up to the edge of the
woods and to the lawns. At one time the fire jumped the fire lines and
the firefighters had to pull back to a safe area and wait it out. This
will be burning for a log time. Already consumed over 3000 acres."

[Mark Schaefer]

The firefighters have named this the "Overlooks Fire" because it started near the scenic overlooks on Route 44/55. After spreading in a southwest line parallel to Route 44/55, it proceeded up the Stony Kill valley. It has burned past the waterfall, but not as far as the Smiley Carriageway. It has burned or scorched over 3100 acres.

There is a topo map of the burn area in the second image of this photo gallery (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/_flash/gallery/gallery.html&Avis=TH&Dato=20080420&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=420005&Ref=PH) from the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper. The map indicates that the fire may have burned over the area northwest and above the Lower Awosting Carriageway. That would include the Jenny Lane Trail. Hopefully it was only scorched. The smoke in the photos did not appear to be from that area (based on my own reading of the photos posted so far). Jenny Lane Trail is a favorite Mountain Laurel hike through a forest of towering laurel trees. But it will regenerate in time even if burned. Blueberry growth will increase in future years throughout the burn area.

The fire may take some time to entirely extinguish. There are many crevices in the Gunks that contain dry organic matter. These may continue to smolder after the surface fires appear to be doused.

The Middletown newspaper has had the most comprehensive coverage. The link below contains additional links to their related/earlier stories and photo galleries:
Middletown Times Herald-Record, April 21 (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080421/NEWS/80421022). The photo is from Shaft Road, which is near Stony Kill Falls.
Poughkeepsie Journal, April 21 (http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080421/NEWS01/804210322)
Today's coverage in the Kingston Freeman is the same article that I posted earlier:
Kingston Freeman, April 20 update (http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19501886&BRD=1769&PAG=461)

[Jay H]

Jenny Lane is part of the Long Path? I think that is what MattC and I took to get into the park from 44/55..

We had a groundcover fire by me in West Milford, NJ part of the blue trail to Terrace pond from Clinton Road burned, could still smell the ashes too and the fire went right up to the trail which acted as a firebreak. All of the groundcover was a black ash and tar but it seemed most live trees survived and didn't catch.

Jay

[Mark Schaefer]

Jenny Lane is part of the Long Path? I think that is what MattC and I took to get into the park from 44/55.. Correct. It begins from a small parking area on "Jenny Lane" north/off Route 44/55 near the Sanders Kill. I drove by last autumn, and there was an additional new parking area on 44/55. IIRC the new parking area is at the intersection of Jenny Lane and 44/55, which is a short walk from where the trail actually crosses 44/55.

Jenny Lane Trail is currently part of the Long Path. However, after a planned relocation of the LP, the Jenny Lane Trail will no longer be part of the LP. That is still some years in the future.

[Mark Schaefer]

The Mohonk Preserve has closed a few trails adjacent to Minnewaska State Park detailed on this breaking news (http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/index.php?news#breaking) page on their website. The page will be updated as the trail, state park, and Route 44/55 status changes. All other trails within the Mohonk Preserve remain open.

[MattC]

The latest is that it's pretty much out and/or contained, but they are still on alert due to today's weather conditions. They plan to reopen the road tonight.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/NEWS01/80423012/1001/news

Matt

[TFR]

The latest is that it's pretty much out and/or contained, but they are still on alert due to today's weather conditions. They plan to reopen the road tonight.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/NEWS01/80423012/1001/news

MattThe traffic report on WFGB this morning said the road was closed.

[Mark Schaefer]

Just for the record most of Minnewaska State Park has reopened. The recent 2.75 inches of rain finally doused the stubborn fire. The cause of the fire has been described as a discarded cigarette at one of the scenic overlooks on Route 44/55.

The immediate area of the fire including several trails remain closed currently. The off limit areas are:
Jenny Lane Trail
Mossy Glen Trail
Blueberry Run Trail
Lower Awosting Carriageway
Smiley Carriageway
Stony Kill Carriageway
Stony Kill Falls
The Mohonk Preserve (http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/index.php?news#breaking) has also reopened all of its trails.

Some newspaper accounts:
Middletown Times Herald-Record (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080429/NEWS/80429027)
Kingston Freeman (http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19528730&BRD=1769&PAG=461)
Kingston Freeman, fire may improve ecosystem (http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19525761&BRD=1769&PAG=461)
Poughkeepsie Journal (http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080429/NEWS01/80429039/)

[MattC]

I was up near the burn today. I hiked one of my typical Gunks routes, a route mostly involving the High Peters Kill Trail. I did respect the Minnewaska closure of the trails within the burn area, but the one short section of the High Peters Kill Trail near the Awosting parking lot passes right near the edge of the burned area. It was so tempting to just plunge in and explore, but again, I wanted to respect the closure of the area. Some pics:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/563294593zLxmqi

The last several of the photos are nowhere near the burn, but rather of some wildflowers on a section of trail closer to the Coxing parking lot.

Matt

[Rob S]

Nice photos Matt! The woods in the burn area look eerie, almost spooky, especially with the fog.

With the exception of the Mohonk Preserve, I've hiked very little in the Gunks. Planning to spend more time this year exploring Minnewaska.

[Mark Schaefer]

Thanks for the photos, Matt. The area you were in was across Route 44/55 from the major burn area. Most likely it was the natural advance line where the fire stopped. Although it is possible this might have been a back burn area. From reading the articles my impressions were that the firefighters back burned areas along the Lower Awosting and Smiley carriageways to create a firebreak.

Anyway it looks like some of the hardwoods were just scorched on the lower trunk and could survive. Other hardwoods were perhaps killed by the fire. The burned blueberry bushes will grow back very rapidly.

Once the groundcover and soil has had time to stabilize, and once the Park reopens the burn area it will be interesting to hike through. I don't expect the Jenny Lane Trail will reopen in time for the mountain laurel season blooming season in mid-June. So I will try to hike the High Peterskill Trail and some other adjacent laurel areas at that time. Perhaps I will get a similar peak at the edges of the burned area.

[MattC]

The area you were in was across Route 44/55 from the major burn area.

I should clarify. My photos are from the south side of 44-55, on the edge of the main burn area. The edge of the burn comes right up to the grass adjacent to the Awosting parking lot, which is the lower of the two main Minnewaska lots. There is a very short little connector path here which just goes from the lot to the road. I think technically it is the very end of the High Peters Kill Trail.

Anyway, I was up there again today, this time just riding past on my road bike. The part of the burn that came up to the road goes from that parking lot, past the two lookout pull-offs, down to just about where the development begins, across from the Laurel Hollow Estates. Must have been a little scary for some of the homeowners for a day or so there.

Had to keep my eyes on the road, but even the little glances I took were impressive. It will be a remarkable site (and sight) for some time to come.

Matt

[MattC]

Anyway it looks like some of the hardwoods were just scorched on the lower trunk and could survive. Other hardwoods were perhaps killed by the fire.

Some of the trees on the edge of the burn that were only charred looked like they were starting to leaf out normally. I imagine some of the trees in the interior of the burn were more severly damaged.

Matt

[MattC]

Nice photos Matt! The woods in the burn area look eerie, almost spooky, especially with the fog.

I agree. Between the blackened wood and the fog, kinda looks like there should be a "Now Entering Mordor" sign.

With the exception of the Mohonk Preserve, I've hiked very little in the Gunks. Planning to spend more time this year exploring Minnewaska.

Sounds good. Let me know if you need a hike partner. I can hike in the Gunks pretty spontaneously if I don't have anything else going on.

Matt

[Jay H]

Sounds good. Let me know if you need a hike partner. I can hike in the Gunks pretty spontaneously if I don't have anything else going on.

Matt

spontaneously? like a forest fire? That's what we need more of, not fires, but spontaneous hike..

"A spontaneous hike occurred today in Minnewaska, news at 11" :D

Jay

[Mark Schaefer]

The Middletown Times Herald-Record ran an update on the April 2008 Minnewaska fire: Out of the ashes, a local forest is reborn (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080907/NEWS/809070301); accompanied by current and April photo galleries:
Ridge making comeback after fire (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/_flash/gallery/gallery.html&Avis=TH&Dato=20080905&Kategori=NEWS62&Lopenr=905012&Ref=PH)
April fire photos (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/_flash/gallery/gallery.html&Avis=TH&Dato=20080904&Kategori=NEWS62&Lopenr=905013&Ref=PH)
April fire charts and maps (http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/_flash/gallery/gallery.html&Avis=TH&Dato=20080904&Kategori=MEDIA0103&Lopenr=905014&Ref=PH)
The forest recovery appears to be progressing as expected. The fire has had a beneficial effect in this forest which had not burned significantly in 60 years. The forest ecologists are reporting a resurgence in sassafras, witch hazel, wintergreen, Indian cucumber root, black huckleberry, and other native species. There also appears to be at least a temporary resurgence in oak trees which have been in decline on the ridge in recent decades.

Although most of Minnewaska State Park is open, the burn area remains closed both to protect the forest from invasive species that might be brought in on the boots and clothing of hikers and to allow the soil to reestablish itself. The closure also protects hikers from the potential of falling trees. Hopefully the winter storms, snow, and ice will bring down the remaining widow makers, and maybe we might see a reopening of the burn area in the next year or two.

[TFR]

Although most of Minnewaska State Park is open, the burn area remains closed both to protect the forest from invasive species that might be brought in on the boots and clothing of hikers and to allow the soil to reestablish itself. The closure also protects hikers from the potential of falling trees. Hopefully the winter storms, snow, and ice will bring down the remaining widow makers, and maybe we might see a reopening of the burn area in the next year or two.I like how that was stated. It's for the protection of the forest first, not the people.

It's like what Pete Hickey says about trail work, it's for the benefit of the mountain, not the people.

[MattC]

Thanks for posting the updates Mark. Not only is it good to see recovery taking place (as we knew it would), but this whole thing might help to educate some of the general public as to fire's role in that ecosystem.

the burn area remains closed both to protect the forest from invasive species that might be brought in on the boots and clothing of hikers...

I can attest to the problem of invasives on the ridge. Although I've only put in a few hours so far volunteering with the Minnewaska invasives control program, I have seen first hand how stuff can just take over an area. Now that I can recognize stiltgrass (pulling it for several hours will hone one's recongnition skills) riding a bike on Clove Rd. is a different experience.

Matt

[Jay H]

An update to the status of the parks have been posted (actually 2 weeks ago):

http://www.nynjtc.org/news/2008/minneupdates1.html

Jay