Bug Out Perspective

[DRM2014]

Here in East Tennessee we currently have over 50 wildfires burning. The closest one to me is about 100 miles away yet we have suffocating smoke and smoke just standing in the air.

I had to call the sheriff's dept on my neighbor the other night. I could see the orange embers floating up from their massive bonfire from 2 streets away. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that my house is in the hands of people surrounding us, which I don't like.

People are now being evacuated from their homes with as little as 40 minutes to be out. I wonder: how many of them were able to grab their bags and go? Where did they go? What was their plan? What did they forget? Medicines, clothing, water?

I'll be finishing our bags this week, no matter what. I've been carrying cases of water in my car for a while now. This morning I packed a food bag for the little one. With people like my neighbors around, we really cannot be too prepared. [emoji53]

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[Maverick]

Been their several times (evac due to fires) Not a pleasant thing. Best wishes and prayers!

 

[Silent Earth]

Good God, I hope the fires die out soon, I saw those dreadful fires in australia that killed 27 people a couple of years ago. Terrible thing to see even on TV from 12 , 000 miles away.

 

[jimLE]

DRM2014.do yall have a trailer of any kind? mainly a box trailer?..and a way to pull it?

stay safe..

 

[WGregMiller]

We're seeing the smoke in North Central Alabama....

 

[DRM2014]

DRM2014.do yall have a trailer of any kind? mainly a box trailer?..and a way to pull it?

stay safe..

No. We're currently saving money for one but not yet. My parents live nearby and have an RV that they leave stocked.

It was just on the news that they've closed trails in the national park due to a brush fire. Probably some idiot tourist flicking their cigarette. Hope that one doesn't spread.

The only thing affecting us right now is the smoke. Thankfully that's all. Fingers crossed.


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[WGregMiller]

Good luck!

 

[Brent S]

I'm about twenty miles from the one in Rabin co Ga. I wouldn't evacuate here. The property is pretty fire resistant and I would take my chances protecting it.

 

[WGregMiller]

Hope ya don't need to, brother!

 

[user 6493]

I was caught up in one massive fire,the smoke was everywhere and at night the sky line as far as you could see was glowing red,,,,Jacksonville Florida in the early 80's ,,,,,,here where I am now I would lose everything I am surrounded by woods for at least 3 miles in all directions,,,,,GOOD LUCK

 

[DRM2014]

This is Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga earlier today. My brother in law sent this.

And this was one of the main roads where I live this afternoon

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[Silent Earth]

This is Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga earlier today. My brother in law sent this.

I tried oh god I really tried but I just cannot resist, I'm so weak willed, Is that RR line in the image of the smoke near Chattanooga for the Chattanooga Choo Choo ?

 

[DRM2014]

I tried oh god I really tried but I just cannot resist, I'm so weak willed, Is that RR line in the image of the smoke near Chattanooga for the Chattanooga Choo Choo ?

I'm not sure but it's possible.


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[Brent S]

We're surrounded by woods too, but I've cleared near the houses pretty well. Mostly though I put metal roofs on everything and used fiber cement siding. Not fire proof, but resistant at least. The biggest weak spot is vinyl windows. They can melt if it gets really hot.

 

[Brent S]

I tried oh god I really tried but I just cannot resist, I'm so weak willed, Is that RR line in the image of the smoke near Chattanooga for the Chattanooga Choo Choo ?

Ughhh....

 

[DRM2014]

I'm reviving this thread. We are currently in forced evacuations in Gatlinburg and parts of Pigeon Forge. Many fires reported in my area. The wind is unbelievable today, causing major spreading.

We're packed and ready to go if we need to. We have our elderly friends living on the top of a mountain that's affected. Once we get word that there's a confirmed fire near them my husband is going to get them.

We have rain moving in tonight and hopefully for the next couple of days. It's a dire situation for us right now.


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[Silent Earth]

Hilton Hotel in TN on fire with folks trapped inside.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ion-4-000-s-Dollywood-residents-evacuate.html

 

[Mountain trapper]

We had a forest fire in September/October that was supposed to be a "controlled" burn by the Forest Service, and of course it got out of hand. It burned to within a mile or so from our northwest property corner and a couple of miles from our home. Most of the time the smoke blew away from us but other times it was thick like a heavy fog with falling ash.

 

[Brent S]

I'm reviving this thread. We are currently in forced evacuations in Gatlinburg and parts of Pigeon Forge. Many fires reported in my area. The wind is unbelievable today, causing major spreading.

We're packed and ready to go if we need to. We have our elderly friends living on the top of a mountain that's affected. Once we get word that there's a confirmed fire near them my husband is going to get them.

We have rain moving in tonight and hopefully for the next couple of days. It's a dire situation for us right now.


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I wish you and yours the best. Just saw the news this morning that the storm front made it a lot worse overnight. There wasn't enough rain in it, and the high winds just fanned the flames. The only good news is the next rain coming is supposed to be enough to help firefighters. Be safe, and wear some sort of mask, even if it's just a dampened t shirt. Mainly just don't get hurt in your hurry to evacuate or stay and protect your place.

 

[Brent S]

We had a forest fire in September/October that was supposed to be a "controlled" burn by the Forest Service, and of course it got out of hand. It burned to within a mile or so from our northwest property corner and a couple of miles from our home. Most of the time the smoke blew away from us but other times it was thick like a heavy fog with falling ash.

The big one in Ga. was a controlled burn as well. So much for the 'experts'.

 

[Maverick]

The big one in Ga. was a controlled burn as well. So much for the 'experts'.

Back in the day controlled burns wasn't hardly needed given we allowed loggers to come in and thin certain parts of the forested areas, that practice isn't followed anymore. We also had a good number of manned fire lookout towers and those have dwindled down to a handful that's hardly manned today. Much of the over growth in forested areas lays directly at the feet of environmentalist.

The problem with controlled burning is that the wiz kids with laptops rely on weather forecasting when planning controlled burns, I don't know how many weather forecasters that can accurately predict the weather 3-5 days out? I do know they are more wrong than right especially with wind patterns and strengths. So when you see these boys out in the field with them laptops that's connected to NOAA you can be assured someone's day is going to be ruined!! These boys today with all them fancy electronics just don't get the fact that controlled burns also changes the surface wind patterns within the vicinity of the heat.

 

[Brent S]

Back in the day controlled burns wasn't hardly needed given we allowed loggers to come in and thin certain parts of the forested areas, that practice isn't followed anymore. We also had a good number of manned fire lookout towers and those have dwindled down to a handful that's hardly manned today. Much of the over growth in forested areas lays directly at the feet of environmentalist.

The problem with controlled burning is that the wiz kids with laptops rely on weather forecasting when planning controlled burns, I don't know how many weather forecasters that can accurately predict the weather 3-5 days out? I do know they are more wrong than right especially with wind patterns and strengths. So when you see these boys out in the field with them laptops that's connected to NOAA you can be assured someone's day is going to be ruined!! These boys today with all them fancy electronics just don't get the fact that controlled burns also changes the surface wind patterns within the vicinity of the heat.

Agreed on all points. Man is not as smart as he thinks he is. I've always thought a responsible logging plan was a brilliant idea, but god forbid you disturb a field mouse nowadays. That is a two edge sword though. If left to the big lumber companies they would rape the lands.

 

[Silent Earth]

So arsonists in CA got 15 to life for starting fires that got out of hand, Doncha think the idiots in GA from the forest service should get the same?

 

[Maverick]

Agreed on all points. Man is not as smart as he thinks he is. I've always thought a responsible logging plan was a brilliant idea, but god forbid you disturb a field mouse nowadays. That is a two edge sword though. If left to the big lumber companies they would rape the lands.

Clear cutting practice looks bad on the surface but after clear cutting the logging companies have 2 years to replant, by law they can't leave the land baron unless it is private land

 

[Brent S]

So arsonists in CA got 15 to life for starting fires that got out of hand, Doncha think the idiots in GA from the forest service should get the same?

I love it! However the govt makes the rules, therefore being exempt from following them......

 

[Brent S]

Clear cutting practice looks bad on the surface but after clear cutting the logging companies have 2 years to replant, by law they can't leave the land baron unless it is private land

I think replanting should be mandatory regardless of where, but not harvesting a natural resource in a sustainable manner is just stupid.