Fires in the south...

[jefals]

I'm sitting here in Sacramento reading my paper - AP article about dozens of fires in GA, TN, NC... and it looks like mostly arson. Hope they catch this guy and I hope all you guys are ok...

[TNhiker]

We have over 100 fires going on in this region...

most are arsons but some are naturally occurring....

such as the cohutta one...

they have made at least one arrest for a fire near Chattanooga....

[Tundracamper]

And no rain in sight

[Puppy]

There's smoke hanging in the air all over out here. Lake Lure area really burning up - they're getting ready for evacuations in some places.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Was this morning's rain enough to make a difference with any of the fires?

[TNhiker]

where was the rain at?

and at this point, we need a good soaking to get some of these knocked down.....


i drove from asheville to knoxville today and the smoke was very thick......

[-Rush-]

The fact that arson is a factor blows my mind. What kind of ****ed up people are out there doing this?

[Time Zone]

The fact that arson is a factor blows my mind. What kind of ****ed up people are out there doing this?

It was reported that the Chattanooga fellow arrested (who admitted to starting the fires) was seeking attention for his "amateur weatherman"-style videos on Facebook. I got the sense from the story that the tip came in from one of his viewers.

[TNhiker]

the weatherman arrest was in kentucky........

[jefals]

whether it was Chattanooga or Kentucky, do they think this one guy started ALL these fires?

[Time Zone]

the weatherman arrest was in kentucky........

My bad. We did have one arrested for arson/wildfire here in Chattanooga, but I got his motivation mixed up because reporting on him in this story was mixed in with the KY "wannabee weatherman":
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/d...heast-43460525

IIRC they are looking at arson for some WNC fires too. But not everything is thought to be arson. IIRC, one early fire on Signal Mtn here near CHA was attributed to a campfire not being put out properly.

[Time Zone]

whether it was Chattanooga or Kentucky, do they think this one guy started ALL these fires?

Nope - Johnny Mullins in KY and Andrew Scott Lewis in TN. So far.

[rocketsocks]

the weatherman arrest was in kentucky........

cool, he can give the other imates reports..."cell wall feels colder today, so winter must be comin' on"

[K2 Travels]

Any updates for Georgia? Specifically the Neels Gap area?

[Secondmouse]

some of the fires out west have been potentially linked to terrorism. articles advocating this have appeared in the Inspire magazine. with so many of these fires in the SE being arson, it's a possibility that is being looked at...

[-Rush-]

Any updates for Georgia? Specifically the Neels Gap area?

If I were concerned with this area I'd call Mountain Crossings and ask. They get a flood of traffic which brings information. I can tell you one thing, you're going to be relying on trail magic for water.