Spot fire on Rubicon - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

cruzila · 08-11-2003, 08:20 AM

I was coming out late about 8:30PM Yesterday and between Walker and Ellis Creek, about halfway, there was a strong smell of smoke. My passenger being a firefighter, was quick to spot it. Up off the "track" in the duff close to the brush was a spot 6-10 inches around black and smoking. There was no cigarette, not a campfire and no other indication of ignition. Lightening has been over up there for quite some time? We got out the shovel and dug down several inches and it was hot down there! If it had caught, there are alot of trees in that area up the hill

The only other thing I thought it could have been was welding, but it did not look like the ground had that much foot traffic near it.

BEAR · 08-11-2003, 09:06 AM

Thanks for for keepin an eye out.
Whatever started it, im just glad you guys put it out!
Thanks!!

Rubicrawler · 08-11-2003, 09:25 AM

Good job Scott! Glad you stopped and checked it out!

Mrs. Maniac · 08-11-2003, 10:11 AM

we've seen some fires that had to have been started by a piece of glass in the sun

JoshC · 08-11-2003, 10:54 AM

Our group cam across something similar a couple years ago and we put it out. Just a smolder pot a couple of inches under the surface. Weird?

cruzila · 08-11-2003, 11:12 AM

Wierd, yes. There was no glass and it seemed to be in dirt. It had that peet texture. With all the lightening recently it could have been going for a while?? Anyone heard of this?

Jeepndel · 08-11-2003, 03:53 PM

Fires with no apparent cause:

Residual fires and smoldering hot spots are very common in the high country where lightning strikes, but does not immediately flame up. It can take days or longer. Some fires in our sierras can actualy burn under the snow, over winter, if there's some O2 getting to them.

So it was probably lightning. Let's hope. Other options include an idiot with a camp fire electric match. But usually, if you have enough fuel to get a fire going, it will take off. Only lightning, with the high intensity, can get a coal bed going, even when the humidity or other factors keep the flames from jumping up.

Hope this helps.
Del
Retired Fire Chief, CDF

Blue Devil Toyota · 08-11-2003, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cruzila
I was coming out late about 8:30PM Yesterday and between Walker and Ellis Creek, about halfway, there was a strong smell of smoke. My passenger being a firefighter, was quick to spot it. Up off the "track" in the duff close to the brush was a spot 6-10 inches around black and smoking. There was no cigarette, not a campfire and no other indication of ignition. Lightening has been over up there for quite some time? We got out the shovel and dug down several inches and it was hot down there! If it had caught, there are alot of trees in that area up the hill

The only other thing I thought it could have been was welding, but it did not look like the ground had that much foot traffic near it.

Was it on the right on the way out? Near a hole? Because there was a broken white jeep wrangler from the Jeep Jamboree there on Friday. I went back through there on Sat evening around 8:00 and some people from the Jamboree were fixing it. They said it had a broken axle. Don't know but they might of done some welding or cutting mabey to get it fixed.

cruzila · 08-12-2003, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rednecks Rule

Was it on the right on the way out? Near a hole? Because there was a broken white jeep wrangler from the Jeep Jamboree there on Friday. I went back through there on Sat evening around 8:00 and some people from the Jamboree were fixing it. They said it had a broken axle. Don't know but they might of done some welding or cutting mabey to get it fixed.

Don't know about the hole? but it was on the right. It was closer to Ellis than Walker. Beyond that I would need gps to tell ya exactly. We ran into that YJ at Buck Island. Still had a broken front and the rear end was clanking

Blue Devil Toyota · 08-12-2003, 09:21 AM

Dell,

Do you think it would be worth it to call the people that thru the Jamboree and find out if they had to do any cutting or welding. If they did they may want to know to be more carefull in the future.

Bernie

Jeepndel · 08-12-2003, 10:21 AM

I will follow up on the welding possibility with the trail vendors/commercial guys. thanks, good idea.
Del

08-11-2003, 08:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
cruzila Pirate4x4 Addict! Join Date: Aug 2001 Member # 6650 Location: Garden Valley Posts: 5,383	Spot fire on Rubicon I was coming out late about 8:30PM Yesterday and between Walker and Ellis Creek, about halfway, there was a strong smell of smoke. My passenger being a firefighter, was quick to spot it. Up off the "track" in the duff close to the brush was a spot 6-10 inches around black and smoking. There was no cigarette, not a campfire and no other indication of ignition. Lightening has been over up there for quite some time? We got out the shovel and dug down several inches and it was hot down there! If it had caught, there are alot of trees in that area up the hill The only other thing I thought it could have been was welding, but it did not look like the ground had that much foot traffic near it. __________________ Scott Johnston Rubicon Trail Foundation Founding Director and Past President 2010-2012 WIN a fully built Toyota pickup at Cantina 2013 Davez Off Road and Trail Gear are supporting Rubicon Trail Foundation Last edited by cruzila; 08-11-2003 at 08:22 AM.

08-11-2003, 09:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
BEAR Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Sep 2000 Member # 1746 Location: Colfax CA Posts: 3,560	Thanks for for keepin an eye out. Whatever started it, im just glad you guys put it out! Thanks!! __________________ Still Politically Uncorrect

08-11-2003, 09:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rubicrawler Pirate4x4 Addict! Join Date: Oct 2000 Member # 2037 Location: Brentwood, CA 150 mi. from the 'Con Posts: 5,834	Good job Scott! Glad you stopped and checked it out! __________________ Mark Langford KI6TMK '86 CJ7, ProRock60's, 4.88's/Detroits/35 Spline Alloys/CTM's, TBI 350, 700R4, 4:1 D300 w/Twin Stick, 17" x 8.5" Trail Ready HD Aluminum beadlocks, 37x13.5x17 Toyo MT's Dysfunctional Rockcrawlers (TDO)

08-11-2003, 10:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
JoshC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Member # 5378 Location: Brentwood, CA Posts: 2,523	Our group cam across something similar a couple years ago and we put it out. Just a smolder pot a couple of inches under the surface. Weird? __________________ DangerRangerRacing.com -- Want to help a "Little guy" race at King of the Hammers?

08-11-2003, 11:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
cruzila Pirate4x4 Addict! Join Date: Aug 2001 Member # 6650 Location: Garden Valley Posts: 5,383	Wierd, yes. There was no glass and it seemed to be in dirt. It had that peet texture. With all the lightening recently it could have been going for a while?? Anyone heard of this? __________________ Scott Johnston Rubicon Trail Foundation Founding Director and Past President 2010-2012 WIN a fully built Toyota pickup at Cantina 2013 Davez Off Road and Trail Gear are supporting Rubicon Trail Foundation

08-11-2003, 10:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mrs. Maniac Pirate Chick Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 110 Location: El Dorado, CA Posts: 490	we've seen some fires that had to have been started by a piece of glass in the sun

08-11-2003, 03:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jeepndel Land Use Zeus Join Date: Apr 2001 Member # 3982 Location: Mokelumne Hill, CA, USA Posts: 2,584	Fires with no apparent cause: Residual fires and smoldering hot spots are very common in the high country where lightning strikes, but does not immediately flame up. It can take days or longer. Some fires in our sierras can actualy burn under the snow, over winter, if there's some O2 getting to them. So it was probably lightning. Let's hope. Other options include an idiot with a camp fire electric match. But usually, if you have enough fuel to get a fire going, it will take off. Only lightning, with the high intensity, can get a coal bed going, even when the humidity or other factors keep the flames from jumping up. Hope this helps. Del Retired Fire Chief, CDF __________________ Del Albright BlueRibbon Coalition Ambassador Co-Founder, Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) Building an Access Army to Fight Back -- SOLDIER UP Follow the Trail Tours TAPT

08-12-2003, 09:21 AM	#10 (permalink)
Blue Devil Toyota Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13438 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,030	Dell, Do you think it would be worth it to call the people that thru the Jamboree and find out if they had to do any cutting or welding. If they did they may want to know to be more carefull in the future. Bernie __________________ Team ateteight #88 Sponsors: Frontier 4x4, Superior Axle & Gear, Rock4X Fabrication, South Bay Drive Line, Lucas Oil, Degnan Printers, Grid 6

08-12-2003, 10:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
Jeepndel Land Use Zeus Join Date: Apr 2001 Member # 3982 Location: Mokelumne Hill, CA, USA Posts: 2,584	I will follow up on the welding possibility with the trail vendors/commercial guys. thanks, good idea. Del __________________ Del Albright BlueRibbon Coalition Ambassador Co-Founder, Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) Building an Access Army to Fight Back -- SOLDIER UP Follow the Trail Tours TAPT

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