Bad News and Good News
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121621)
Gainesville, Florida
May 23, 2023 5:56pm CST
I was really bummed earlier this week when I found out that there was a major forest fire in Ocala National Forest in Florida. I immediately googled information on the fire, fearing the worst. And the news reports confirmed my fears: the Juniper Prairie Wilderness inside the forest is where the wildfire was burning out of control.
The Juniper Prairie Wilderness is the area of the forest my son and I hike and camp in every year. Because it's a federally protected wilderness, it is extremely remote and undisturbed. While that makes for great backpacking adventure, it is not so great for fighting wildfires. In looking at the maps of the fire, pretty much everywhere we hike and camp has been consumed by the fire (which has been confirmed to have been started by a lightning strike).
I ran into a federal park ranger yesterday at work, and he had just come from battling the fire. He said it was really bad, and that the landscape now looks like a barren wasteland. But he was quick to point out that it was all part of the natural cycle of the land, and that by next spring the whole forest would be green with abundant growth again. He said they were throwing everything they possibly could at the fire...planes, helicopters, bulldozers and other heavy equipment, tanker trucks, and lots of manpower. I was really surprised by the magnitude of this forest fire, given that we had a really wet spring.
Well, that was the bad news. The good news is that no firefighters had been injured or killed fighting the blaze. And as of this evening, the feds said that the majority of the fire has been contained thanks in part to over 6 inches of rain falling over the area today (with 4-6 more inches forecast to fall again tomorrow).
The few roads that do lead to the wilderness area are closed, so nobody from the public can get it right now to see the damage. I am eager to try and hike the area as soon as it is safe to do so in order to get a firsthand look at the damage. That is, if there are any trails left to hike on...
Have you ever experienced a forest fire or wildfire in your area, or had a place you love go up in smoke?
18 people like this
19 responses
@DaddyEvil (137261)
• United States
24 May 23
Nope... and happy about that, too. When I was a kid, every Fall dad would take a squad of his sons out into the fields and they'd burn the old pastures off. The next Spring, everything would be the brightest green I've ever seen. (Of course, I was too little to go out and help burn off the pastures.)
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137261)
• United States
24 May 23
@moffittjc Those fires, started by nature, out in California and Oregon, are nature's way of renewing everything. The fires have been so bad for the last 20 or 30 years because none of the underbrush was being burned off by nature so the "natural fuel" was piling up out there until a fire breaks out anyway... Humans are interfering with Mother Nature's plans for the areas because we build our houses in the middle of the area Mother Nature wants to burn off to renew the area.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
It’s nice to know that nature can heal itself so quickly. Fire is important in many areas for a healthy ecosystem. That beautiful expanse of green you saw every spring was a perfect example of that.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
@DaddyEvil I will say that in Florida both the state managed areas and the federally managed areas do a good job with prescribed burns. We learned our lesson back in 1998 when the entire state was on fire. The problem in this instance was that the fire was in a federally protected wilderness area, where law requires that the area be maintained in its natural, pristine state without any outside interference from man. This means they can’t do prescribed burns inside the boundaries of the wilderness area.
2 people like this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
24 May 23
I’m so sorry, I hate to hear of forest fires. I have seen forest fires and when I was a child our house burned to the ground. I don’t like to see anyone out burning brush or anything like that. So glad the rain came and put your forest fire out.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
Forest fires are part of nature, so as much as I hate to see them, they are healthy for the environment and the renewal of ecosystems.
When I was a toddler, our house burned down as well. My parents lost everything in the fire. And when I was 10 or 11, our neighbors house burned down, and it was terrifying to me because I watched the whole thing happen.
Interestingly, I’m not terrified of fire. I have a healthy respect for it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May 23
@RubyHawk Maybe someday those new trees will grow as large as the old trees!
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
24 May 23
@moffittjc I’m not terrified of fires but I’m watchful. When acres on the mountain burned it was years before the trees grew back and I’m not sure trees grew to the size they were before the fire. But I suppose the old always has to make way for the new.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
It’s a temporary destruction, and all part of the cycle of life and renewal. In this case, it’s good for the overall health of the ecosystem. The landscape will take several years to recuperate, but the area will be green again with signs of new life by the end of summer.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50317)
• United States
24 May 23
We had a pretty good sized forest fire near us some years back. They are devastating. I’m glad that no firefighters have been harmed.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
The hardest part of forest fires is that they always seem to have a mind of their own, so it makes it difficult to fight them because authorities never know what the fire will do next. And even worse, when they get large enough, they tend to create their own weather, which makes fighting them even harder.
@wolfgirl569 (106607)
• Marion, Ohio
24 May 23
Never had a fire destroy anything fully here. Glad it is under control now
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106607)
• Marion, Ohio
24 May 23
@moffittjc Where we are right now it's mostly open. But there is quite a few trees around including a small woods down the road. A bike walking trail behind us that is mostly wooded on both sides.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 May 23
@wolfgirl569 So no danger of a major wildfire ravaging through your area. Maybe a small brush/forest fire, but sounds like nothing of the variety that would make the national news.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
If I remember correctly, you live in a pretty rural area, right? Is there a lot of tree cover, or is it more open pasture/farmland type of area?
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (119698)
• United States
24 May 23
Unfortunately fires are part of some ecosystems. I live in the Pine Barrens here in NJ and it is a fire ecosystem. Some species of tree seeds won't even germinate unless they've been through the high temperatures of a fire. We have fires regularly whether they are controlled burns, arson, or accidental ones.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
That’s so cool that you live in the Pine Barrens. I used to be fascinated with that area as a kid, due to infamous stories of the legendary Jersey Devil.. imean, I’ve never been there, but loved reading about it.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
@NJChicaa I know the Jersey Devil isn’t real, but loved reading about the legends. And you’re right, that episode of the Sopranos was epic.
@NJChicaa (119698)
• United States
24 May 23
@moffittjc The Jersey Devil isn't real. The Pine Barrens episode of The Sopranos was epic. I was so upset that they never followed up on the Russian.
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2 people like this
@kaylachan (70132)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 May 23
Thankfully, no. Well, kind of? I wouldn't say I love my school, but there was a fire that started one year shortly after we left on spring break.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
Which student started the fire on the way out to spring break? haha
You're not too far from where the Ocala wildfire is burning. Have you seen any smoke or ash or anything as a result of the fire? I think most of the wind has been pushing everything to the northeast, while you're located to the southeast of the fire.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89980)
• Arvada, Colorado
24 May 23
Wildfires from Canada are choking us in Denver here. We can't breath with the toxins and the air is thick.
Denver was the worst air quality in the world the other day. Nice.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89980)
• Arvada, Colorado
25 May 23
@moffittjc Yes at least..
And it rained here a while ago washing some of it out of the sky Jeff.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
I've been hearing a lot about the fires in Canada. Sucks what they are going through. On the bright side, at least California is not on fire again.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471573)
• Switzerland
24 May 23
I am very sorry, at least no firefighters were injured or killed.
Yes we have experienced a very serious wildfire when we live in Monte Carlo.
The whole area around us was burning and Monte Carlo was isolated. We went to sit on the beach that nigh, I was too scared to stay at home. I remember the bed covered with ashes in the morning.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471573)
• Switzerland
24 May 23
@moffittjc We experienced very uneasy 48 hours and the smell of the air was horrible.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
@LadyDuck I remember in 1998 when the entire state of Florida was on fire. The heat, the smoke, and the ash were so bad that it was almost impossible to breathe when people went outside. It was horrible.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
That must have been an uneasy feeling, knowing the only safe place you could go was toward the sea.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May 23
We’ve gotten tons of rain this week which has helped put out the fire. There’s still a few smoldering hot spots, but they say the wildfire is 80% contained now.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 23
@just4him You’re getting smoke from it too? Ocean Tiara in Colorado said they were also getting a lot of smoke from the Alberta fires. They must have a crazy big fire up there!
1 person likes this
@just4him (317090)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 May 23
@moffittjc I'm glad it's contained. I wish the one in Alberta was. They're saying we'll have wildfire smoke for a while to come yet.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
Nature knows how to heal itself, despite the best efforts of man to destroy it. We always hate to see fires, but thankfully this one was naturally occurring due to lightning.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44596)
• Staten Island, New York
25 May 23
Not sure I recall witnessing a wild fire here. That’s probably a good thing. I would want to check out the forest after a fire, so long as it’s safe to do so.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 23
Do you even have any forests in the vicinity that could catch on fire? Lol
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 May 23
@lovebuglena As heavily developed as New York City is, I would think that there are no forests left in the area, with the exception of some of the big parks. I really hope you do have some wooded areas nearby. Trees are very important, not only to our environment, but also to our mental well being.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44596)
• Staten Island, New York
26 May 23
@moffittjc I think we do.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (179153)
• United States
24 May 23
I'm so sorry. I'm glad no one was injured. I've never experienced a wildfire other than in California.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
We are all very thankful for the heavy rain over the state this week that has helped firefighters contain the fire. The damage is already done, but at least this major wildfire didn’t threaten any cities or populated areas.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 May 23
Oh goodness, always sad to hear about these fires. But as you said, glad to know it will all make a comeback soon. No wildfires in this area thank goodness. My aunt lost two homes due to a fire. Very traumatic to lose it all twice.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
Once is bad enough, but losing a home twice had to be devastating! When I was 2 years old, my parents house burned to the ground. They lost everything.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 May 23
@moffittjc Yes, her and her family were all devastated. So sad to lose it all. Many things can never be replaced.
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@GardenGerty (160721)
• United States
25 May 23
We have controlled burns in this area a lot to green up the pastures and take care of stubble. Sometimes we have out of control burns as well and we worry about our firefighters who are mostly volunteer.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May 23
One thing I am impressed with around my area is that they do a good job with prescribed burns, so it's rare that we get out of control wildfires (although it's inevitable from time to time).
It always seems to me that those prescribed burns that get out of control are because they are done on the windiest days. Who's the brain surgeon that approves a prescribed burn on a windy day? Always made me shake my head in disbelief.
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
I’m hoping you make it through this summer as well without any fires. We’re they forest fires, or urban fires?
1 person likes this
@zainkhan121 (859)
• Pakistan
30 May 23
Wow, that forest fire sounds like a real bummer! It's a relief that the firefighters are safe and they're making progress in containing it. Nature has a way of bouncing back, so hopefully, the forest will be green and vibrant again soon.
And Thank God, I have never witnessed such a situation in my life.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 May 23
Thanks to several days of heavy rains in the area, the forest fire is now extinguished.
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 May 23
Most of the area the fire was in is federally protected wilderness. No mechanized vehicles of any sort allowed. They had to fight the fire on foot, or from the air. So in this case, the fire did most of the damage.
@silvafres (9)
• Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
24 May 23
I live in Brazil, and a good day to you and the family, I hope you manage to finish the book and have others on the way.
a hug from across the sea
1 person likes this
