Getting to the mountain area, you could actually see the mountain forms. This area was not as hot, except in some areas, like this little mountain to the west of the main mountain.
Fire in Greenwood Forest Ocean County Near Jones Road
- Thread starter Teegate
- Start date
Looking east from the top of the last photo, you could see the main mountain. Not badly burned except those big logs on the one side.
The paths were no longer private. I saw one guy on a motocycle.
I went behind the Industrial Park, where the door and awning building was destroyed. It's a hellscape behind there. Cedars were toasted.
This last shot shows life goes on, despite me seeing 6 toasted box turtles. I'm sure hundreds likely were. This puddle is near the mountain.
From the article about the girl Guy Posted.
"When Kling’s friends were further questioned by police, they recalled being with him when he drove to Sonny’s Recycling in Waretown, stole between 10 and 20 pallets and threw them on the bonfire before pouring gasoline over it, authorities said."
Sonny's used to be located right near where the fire stopped at route 9. Odd. Also, I recall in the day that businesses' begged people to take the pallets off their hands. I got a furniture delivery in February, and the damn shipper left the box on a sturdy pallet. It took a long time to break that apart so I could take it to the recycling center.
"When Kling’s friends were further questioned by police, they recalled being with him when he drove to Sonny’s Recycling in Waretown, stole between 10 and 20 pallets and threw them on the bonfire before pouring gasoline over it, authorities said."
Sonny's used to be located right near where the fire stopped at route 9. Odd. Also, I recall in the day that businesses' begged people to take the pallets off their hands. I got a furniture delivery in February, and the damn shipper left the box on a sturdy pallet. It took a long time to break that apart so I could take it to the recycling center.
I misspent most of my teens and into my mid-20's drinking a ridiculous amount of Pabst Blue Ribbon and smoking Marlboro Reds (soft pack because they were about 3/16" longer than box) around a bonfire in the woods. Places like Murphy's Pit, the old Medford Stump Dump in Medford and remnants of old pits near my hometown of Gibbsboro were my haunts. I met my wife at one of those bonfires and here we are, together 48 years and married 42 years. Never did I have the urge do anything more stupid than run through a a hot fire with a beer in each hand and a cigarette in my mouth. When we left, all fires were thoroughly extinguished by returning kidney-processed Pabst and melted cooler ice to the fires.
I don't understand why anyone would do what this apparent group of kids did. Worse yet, to plan to blame it on two fictitious Mexicans is disheartening.
I hope justice is served.
I don't understand why anyone would do what this apparent group of kids did. Worse yet, to plan to blame it on two fictitious Mexicans is disheartening.
I hope justice is served.
Yeah, we had one spot in Lebanon State Forest, an old gravel pit. But we also went to the clay pits north of 72 from the train trestle. We also had fires when the ice was good enough to skate on. My drink at that time was Bud in those 7 oz bottles. I smoked Marlboro menthols or Marlboro light.I misspent most of my teens and into my mid-20's drinking a ridiculous amount of Pabst Blue Ribbon and smoking Marlboro Reds (soft pack because they were about 3/16" longer than box) around a bonfire in the woods. Places like Murphy's Pit, the old Medford Stump Dump in Medford and remnants of old pits near my hometown of Gibbsboro were my haunts. I met my wife at one of those bonfires and here we are, together 48 years and married 42 years. Never did I have the urge do anything more stupid than run through a a hot fire with a beer in each hand and a cigarette in my mouth. When we left, all fires were thoroughly extinguished by returning kidney-processed Pabst and melted cooler ice to the fires.
I don't understand why anyone would do what this apparent group of kids did. Worse yet, to plan to blame it on two fictitious Mexicans is disheartening.
I went back today, I wanted to see if the Middle Branch and the South Branch of the Forked River were affected. I decided to not go to the Middle Branch. After yesterday, I had my fill of driving in the Forked River Mountains. It sucks anymore. You get rocked and rolled and brought up to deep water holes you fret about. No fun. Not like driving in good old Lebanon State Forest - Smooth, hard packed brown sand. Great stuff. I wonder if it's still like that.
Anyway, at the South Branch. I was able to walk in. This is a pitch pine lowland. Anyone recognize the two plants in this lowland?
Anyway, at the South Branch. I was able to walk in. This is a pitch pine lowland. Anyone recognize the two plants in this lowland?
It is dissapointing to see many nice groves of white cedar burned all the way to the tips.
Do you recall the burn I looked at last year, behind the Popcorn Park Zoo, the way the cedar roots were exposed due to deep burning? Well, here too. I wonder if climate change is allowing this to happen. Not enough moisture to keep the humus damp.
Here, the fire did not reach the creek in many spots. Like it was never there. But look at the second photo, it was only 20 feet away from the golden club in the first photo that the fire stopped. It was in too much of a hurry to try to burn wet sphagum.
Bob, tell me more about the dead box turtles. Were they near or approaching wetlands? When I walked the bass river fire I found a half dozen box turtle shells as the turtles were fleeing to a cedar lowland but didn’t quite make it there. When I explored the Wharton/batsto fire I found dozens of box turtles finding refuge in maple, blueberry bush low spots around sphagnum that likely saved them. I didn’t actually find any dead ones. My fear is with a fire this early box turtles were exposed after being sleepy from hibernation and simply in leave forms hanging out. Also how much area you cover and were the turtles mostly in one spot? Appreciate the insight as box turtles in fire intrigues me.
It was a mixed bag. I was mostly driving, but got out quite a few times to climb a hill or go down a trail. I saw one right on the side of the road, and one in an upland scene, and a couple in lowland with highbush blueberry. The third photo below was an odd one (as was my response). This was kind of an upland, but he looked injured. I could not see his other hind leg, and I didn't want to disturb him, so just kept going. I knew I could not do anything for the poor thing if he was injured. He did not act right, no response, like hiding his head.
Bob. My guess that the small plants scattered all around isTurkey-beard.. I'm not as sure on the other one, but based on time of year, my guess is Sand Myrtle.
Yes, you are correct as to the turkey beard. The clumps are heat-affected sphagnum.
As for the turkey beard, I saw that same occurrence in the area of the Sykes Branch and Sooey Rd after the Spring Hill Fire. Being in that area several times, I never realize now many plants were present. Being small, they normally hid in the understory. In very short time, they started to come back.