FIRE!~

I'm actually more afraid of fires on our island, than I am of hurricanes. This photo was taken at our beach road, Little Greyfield Beach Road (click on map to left).

I just walked in the door from taking these photos. Now, it might not look like a big fire. However, all fires begin as small fires....

I took this photo to give you a better idea of it's location. This is Stafford beach crossing, the next one up from the campground and the road where the Stafford Beach House is located.

http://www.cumberlandislandquiltchick.com/2010/02/stafford-beach-house.html

I am a State Certified Volunteer Fire Fighter on Cumberland Island.

When I saw this vehicle coming from afar, I thought it was firefighters, but it turned out to be Greyfield Inn, conducting their tours on the beach. They go up the main road, to the north end, then come back along the beach with paying guests.  This fall, the CINS (Cumberland Island National Seashore)  will conduct these tours, but will not drive on the beach.

We have long been a huge advocate for MORE access to the north end and other parts of the island, which is not easily accessible to the public. The island is around 18 miles long and you are dropped off at the south end. So, this is great news! The park will take you to Stafford Chimney area, which is private, then up to the old wharf, over to the Church, out to the beach for a picnic lunch and then back down the main road to catch the ferry. Wonderful news as far as we are concerned. America's National Seashore should be affordable and accessible to ALL, not just the elite and rich who can afford the extremely high rates to stay at the Greyfield Inn, the only commercial operation here. I think their cheapest room is around 500.00, but that's sharing a bath.

So, I'll let keep you updated on the fires. We are big advocates of dumping water via helicopter on fires to put them out. This is not very popular with the extreme environmentalists, but a fire could wipe out all the HUGE oak trees, flora and fauna, historic structures that are left, not to mention our homes. This is nature taking it's course in their eyes and it's all non indigenous, so it doesn't matter...
As you can imagine, we have trouble getting insurance here with NO fire dept. What little bit we have is VERY expensive. So, any fire here gets our attention! Grover has a few fire stories from the 70's, when he lived on the north end in front of the church and many throughout our years here.