Blaze scorches AT in Warren, NJ

[SavageLlama]

Blaze scorches trail in Warren
BY TIEN-SHUN LEE
DAILY RECORD
August 14, 2006

A 1-acre forest fire broke out along the Appalachian Trail in Warren County, about a mile north of the Yards Creek Reservoir, on Sunday at around 5 p.m.

About 15 New Jersey Forest Fire Service firefighters were battling the blaze on foot on Sunday night, according to Blairstown Fire Chief William Weinbrecht.

The Blairstown Fire Department also responded, but when fire officials determined the size of the fire, they decided that the Blairstown services were not needed.

It is unlikely that hikers would be in the area where the fire blazed, Weinbrecht said. "The Appalachian Trail goes there, so somebody could possibly be there, but the fire is in a remote area right now," he said.

Elaine Makatura, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the state Forest Fire Service, said it is not uncommon for forest fires to break out at this time of year.

One of the biggest challenges in fighting this fire was to find it, said William Cirone, a firefighter from the Budd Lake section of Mount Olive who was at the scene on Sunday.

# # #

[SGT Rock]

I wonder what caused it?

Campfire not put out right?

Cigarette thrown down?

Lightning?

[Gray Blazer]

Terrorists!!!!!! Go get 'em, Rock!

[Kerosene]

It is unlikely that hikers would be in the area where the fire blazed, Weinbrecht said. "The Appalachian Trail goes there, so somebody could possibly be there, but the fire is in a remote area right now," he said.

As a linear trail, I would think that there would be a very good possibility that backpackers could have been nearby at some point during the fire.

[Kerosene]

For some reason, I always find it fascinating to walk through a burned section of forest. In a smaller fire, it amazes me what gets charred and what gets through untouched. It also surprises me how long the evidence of the fire lasts.

[chemist]

We saw the fire (from afar, that is) on Sunday while hiking in the area. Couldn't have been lightning - it was too clear of a day. The parking area at Millsbrook-Blairsville Rd was crowded with day hikers so my guess would be a cigarette butt.