Dugger Mt. Wilderness Closure

[atmilkman]

Pinhoti through Dugger closed

Hodge, Lesley -FS Good morning everyone. We have a wildfire in Dugger Mountain Wilderness. The Pinhoti Trail is temporarily closed from Pinky Burns Trail Head, through the wilderness, to Forest Service Road 500.


Today at 8:33 AM

Good morning everyone.

We have a wildfire in Dugger Mountain Wilderness. The Pinhoti Trail is temporarily closed from Pinky Burns Trail Head, through the wilderness, to Forest Service Road 500. We are sorry for the inconvenience and will let everyone know when the trail reopens.

Thank you!

Lesley

Lesley M. Hodge
Talladega Division
ORA
256-463-2272 ext. 116

[Matt65]

Thanks for posting this!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[Ewker]

I was just getting ready to post this myself

[Matt65]

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/24049107/article-Wildfire-continues-to-burn-in-Calhoun-County-wilderness


RABBITTOWN – From the hill behind his home, Jeff Parris said that at night, he can see the flames from Red Mountain jump 20 feet above the tree line.

Since Sunday the Rabbittown resident, who lives on a stretch of road that cuts through the Talladega National Forest, has watched the smoke and ash from wildfires choke out the views of the mountain. As of this afternoon, 225 acres of land in the Dugger Mountain Wilderness in Calhoun County had burned, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

“I’ve never seen a fire in the national forest,” Parris said. “They don’t even do burns up there.”

Bobby Kitchens, a public information officer with the U.S. Forest Service, said 25 firefighters were working to contain the fire this afternoon, and he expected another 25 to arrive before tonight. Because much of the Southeast is going through a dry period, Kitchens said, the Forest Service called in the nearest available firefighters, from New Mexico, to assist in containing the flames.

Because the land is designated as a wildlife area within the National Forest, roads are not allowed to be built there. Kitchens, who spoke by phone from the Shoal Creek District Ranger Office in Cleburne County, said the lack of roads has made getting firefighters to the flames difficult, with walking being the best option.

“We have a small helicopter, but that’s mostly for scouting purposes,” Kitchens said. “We can’t really transport people, so the best way to get there is just to walk two or three miles.”

Although smoke filled the air along Rabbittown Road Wednesday, Kitchens said there was no threat to residents nearby, and forestry officials had the fire contained in the wilderness area and away from roads.

“Unless they’re allergic to smoke, they should be fine,” Kitchens said. “But no one’s property has been threatened.”

The Forest Service has closed off 5 miles of the Pinhoti Trail through the wilderness area, but Kitchens said the trail is still open north and south of the area.

Kitchens said he didn’t know when the fire would be extinguished, but said the weather should help firefighters subdue the flames in the next couple days. Winds on Tuesday and Wednesday had spread the fire, but Kitchens said the forecast calls for considerably less wind for the rest of the week.

“Of course once it’s contained we won’t just walk away,” Kitchens said. “We still have to mop up, so it’s going to be several days.”

Kitchens said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but he suspects it was man-made.

“That’s what we want people to know, is that it’s very dry out there,” Kitchens said. “People need to be careful about fire.”

Staff writer Brian Anderson: 256-235-3546. On Twitter @BAnderson_Star (http://www.twitter.com/BAnderson_Star).


Read more: Anniston Star - Wildfire continues to burn in Calhoun County wilderness (http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/24049107/article-Wildfire-continues-to-burn-in-Calhoun-County-wilderness#ixzz2kdkA3xMl)

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[Matt65]

Campfire source of Dugger fire, says Forest Service by Madasyn Czebiniak
[email protected] Anniston Star
Nov 17, 2013










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Campfire source of Dugger fire, says Forest Service
by Madasyn Czebiniak
[email protected] Anniston Star
Nov 17, 2013














Read more: Anniston Star - Campfire source of Dugger fire says Forest Service (http://annistonstar.com/view/full_story/24070645/article-Campfire-source-of-Dugger-fire--says-Forest-Service?#ixzz2kuonjZAp)

The wildfire that burned through the Dugger Mountain area of the Talladega National Forest all last week was caused by a campfire that hadn’t been fully extinguished, according to a U.S. Forest Service official.

Bobby Kitchens, the public information officer with the Forest Service said that the cause was determined after investigators discovered a circle of rocks near where the fire began.

“People should really be careful with fire,” Kitchens said. “Even though we’ve had rain, it still comes up pretty quick.”

Saturday’s weather, including cloud cover and light rain, helped to slow the spread of the fire, which Kitchens does not expect to burn past 566 acres. The burn had reached 523 acres by Saturday afternoon.

Kitchens said 60 firefighters and support staff aided in Saturday’s efforts and two bulldozers, a helicopter and a fire engine were also available.

Kitchens said that on Saturday, workers began work on returning the land to the way it looked before the fire began.

“The main thing we’re doing today is putting out any fire close to the fire line and fire suppression repair,” Kitchens said.

Mary Humphries, a wilderness ranger with the Forest Service, said suppression efforts Saturday included removing snags, which are trees that had been burned at the bottom, from the hiking trails to prevent them from collapsing.

Crews also began efforts to return any pathways cleared for firefighters to their original forms to stop hikers from mistaking them for additional trails.

Staff Writer Madasyn Czebiniak: 256-235-3562. On Twitter: @Mczebiniak_star



Read more: Anniston Star - Campfire source of Dugger fire says Forest Service (http://annistonstar.com/view/full_story/24070645/article-Campfire-source-of-Dugger-fire--says-Forest-Service?#ixzz2kunxKF6F)



Lesley Hodge, a natural resources specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, works against the wildfire on Dugger Mountain this past Friday afternoon, Nov. 15. (Anniston Star photo by Bill Wilson)

Read more: Anniston Star - Campfire source of Dugger fire says Forest Service (http://annistonstar.com/view/full_story/24070645/article-Campfire-source-of-Dugger-fire--says-Forest-Service?#ixzz2kuob2wZd)
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[schlanky]

I'm assuming this stretch of trail is now reopened. Can anyone confirm?

[Matt65]

Based on word of mouth I have heard that this section is open again.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[schlanky]

Thanks, Matt.

[BuddyL]

While the signage with the suggested detour remains, the Shoal Creek district office of the TNF has declared the Pihoti trail through the Dugger Mtn wilderness area has reopened. They advise the use of extreme caution and a heightened sense of awareness while on this section of trail from Co Rd 55 (Rabbittown Rd) and FS500. Hike on!

[blisterbob]

Thanks Buddy, I called Lesley at the Shoal Creek office yesterday only to learn she is off till Jan.