Tunnel Ridge / Nada Tunnel Road Closure

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WINCHESTER, Ky., October 24, 2010 – On Sunday morning, Forest Supervisor Frank Beum issued an emergency closure order for the Auxier Ridge area of the Red River Gorge. This order was issued due to a wildfire that began in the early morning hours.

An illegal campfire, set during a declared fire ban, is confirmed as the cause of the wildfire.

The closure area boundaries are Tunnel Ridge Road #39 on the west side, Kentucky Highway 77 (Nada Tunnel Road) to the south and east, and the Red River to the north. All trails within the Auxier Ridge closure area are closed, which include trails leading to Courthouse Rock, Haystack Rock and Double Arch.

The Tunnel Ridge Road is closed until further notice. Kentucky Highway 77 will be temporarily closed to through traffic from Nada Tunnel to the Red River.

The fire ban for the Cumberland Ranger District of the Daniel Boone National Forest remains in place. The ban includes the Red River Gorge Geological Area, Clifty Wilderness and general forest area of Cave Run Lake. Nearly 12 miles of trail in the Grays Arch area of the Red River Gorge remain closed due to a wildfire that began nearly three weeks ago.

Under the fire ban, no campfires are permitted outside of developed recreation areas with designated fire rings.

“The closure of the Auxier Ridge area was ordered in the interest of visitor safety,” said Beum. “Wildfires are unpredictable. They can change direction quickly and spread rapidly on uphill slopes.”

The Auxier Ridge area will remain closed and the fire ban will remain in place until further notice.

[jayh]

My wife and I went climbing Saturday morning and decideded to to go see Auxiers Ridge in the evening before heading home. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE DISGUSTING AFTERMATH IN MY LIFE.

We witnesses two tents still standing on the ridge with fires still burning. Two tents right to the left of the stairs heading down to courthouse...fires still smoldering...one bivy under the ridge line in a rock shelter with a fire pit full of trash and still smoldering.

I'm still pretty young but I've been solo through hiking for many years and I was floored at what I had witnessed. I'm not in the least suprised the place is burning.

Heading over to double arch we witnessed a group of three very large tents with probably 12 persons capacity with a hammock slung up and a bunch of tp in the creek. Coolers, trash and beer cans everywhere.

This was the worst I've ever seen and probably because of all the other trail closures, but it's a whole new experience to see the impact in only about 6 miles of trail.

[mike_a_lafontaine]

As understaffed as the forest service is, would they respond with an officer if you were to call and complain when you see things like this? I ran into people like this once while hiking the AT...bad idea confronting them directly, don't like having a gun pointed at me. Had to hike an extra 10 miles that day to get to the next tenting area because we felt it was safer to bypass the one 400 meters ahead in case they looking for us...

[jayh]

Bill could probably give you an answer on that, but I'm thinking they'd get to it in a day or so...after the fires are spreading and visible from service roads.

Anymore I think auxiers and double arch need to have guided hikes by the FS. Not closed but closely monitored. What bad could come of them educating 20 plus vistors and chastising a couple hippie rappeling rednecks all together.

Auxiers is really full value. Frankly it takes zero fitness to get to some of the best views in the gorge. I get why it's so popular.

What I wonder is how these things play into the non rrgcc and privately owned crags access. I bet the USFS doesn't give a shit if your a hillbilly coleman camper or a sponsored climber in town for the weekend...some one still set a fire and now they gotta put it out.

[vertical1]

I heard military and left flank were closed because of this also.

[DriskellHR]

I stopped at a few places to tell them there was a fire ban. One group (with a five ft tall fire) Told me they had water and would be okay. Their water....... a cooler with beer....... I called the FS. Fuck em I hope they got a big fine.

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Reward offered for escaped campfire in Red River Gorge
WINCHESTER, Ky., October 25, 2010 – The U.S. Forest Service is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for an escaped campfire in the Red River Gorge. The fire began just after midnight on Saturday. Over 115 acres burned before rain slowed the progress.

The escaped campfire led to an emergency Forest Supervisor’s Order that closed an estimated 3,000 acres, including roads and trails, in the Auxier Ridge area. Forest Service officials spent most of Sunday morning searching for backcountry campers and hikers who had vehicles parked in the closure area. All visitors associated with the vehicles were found safe.

Forest Service law enforcement officers witnessed three individuals running from the escaped campfire and getting into their car parked along Kentucky Highway 77. An investigation is under way. According to law enforcement, the individuals starting the fire would be best served by coming forward.

On Oct. 8, a Forest Supervisor’s Order was issued that banned fire on national forest lands in the Red River Gorge and Cave Run Lake areas. The fire ban was in effect at the time of the escaped campfire on Auxier Ridge. The fire ban remains effect until further notice.

Since the fire ban, Forest Service law enforcement officers have issued nearly 200 violations for illegal campfires in the Red River Gorge.

“We have the fire ban information posted at every entrance into the Red River Gorge,” said Forest Supervisor Frank Beum. “In addition, visitors have been provided information about the fire ban, the drought conditions, and the risk of wildfire on our website and through the media.”

“It is critical that campers observe the fire ban,” added Beum. “During these extremely dry weather conditions, an escaped campfire can put other visitors at serious risk.”

Anyone with information about this fire is asked to call Forest Service Patrol Captain Kimberly Kipp at 606-875-5042.

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Forest Service increases fine for illegal campfires

WINCHESTER, Ky., Oct. 26, 2010 – The fine for having a campfire during a declared fire ban on national forest land just got stiffer. Daniel Boone National Forest officials have increased the fine from $75 to a $500 minimum.

All violations will require a mandatory appearance in federal court. Up to six months imprisonment could be incurred in addition to a fine. Individuals who allow a campfire to escape and result in a wildfire may be required to pay restitution for suppression costs.

The fine increase comes as a result of numerous illegal campfires following a fire ban implemented on Oct. 8. The fire ban applies to national forest lands in the Red River Gorge and Cave Run Lake area. Since the ban, Forest Service law enforcement officers have issued nearly 200 violations for illegal campfires.

On Sunday, an escaped campfire led to an emergency Forest Supervisor’s Order that closed an estimated 3,000 acres, including roads and trails, in the Auxier Ridge area of the gorge. Forest Service officials spent much of the early hours searching for backcountry campers and hikers in the closure area. All visitors were found safe.

The Auxier Ridge area remains closed to forest visitors. From Nada Tunnel to the Martins Fork trailhead parking area, Kentucky Highway 77 is closed to through traffic due to trees burning at the base and falling into the road.

Forest Service law enforcement officers witnessed three individuals running from the escaped campfire on Auxier Ridge. An investigation is ongoing.

The U.S. Forest Service is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for the escaped campfire on Sunday in the Red River Gorge. Anyone with information is asked to call Forest Service Patrol Captain Kimberly Kipp at 606-875-5042.

[maitri]

NEW NEWS! Military Wall and Left Flank are NOW CLOSED!

They started cutting dead and weakened trees along KY77 from Nada Tunnel to Martin's Fork parking lot. Therefore, Rough Trail and the trails to Military and Left Flank are closed until further notice for safety.

For more information, see the Daniel Boone National Forest website www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone or call Gladie at 606-663-8100.

[Toad]

Where does it say that? I can't seem to find it at that link.