Getting stuck while off-roading is embarrassing and annoying enough, but one Jeep Wrangler driver in Florida has felt those emotions to the nth degree after his vehicle was cited as the cause of a massive forest fire. As reported by NBC’s WESH (channel 2), a wildfire in the Ocala National Forest burned more than 20 acres after the off-roader ventured off a trail, got stuck in the mud, and its hot exhaust ignited dried grass. In other words, human error is responsible for decimating flora and causing a fire that had to be battled through the night of April 11.
Forest Service Eventually Puts Out Avoidable Forest Fire
Florida Forest Service
The incident has been called the Grassy Pond fire and took place off Paisely Road within the national forest, and the Forest Service and Lake County Fire Rescue returned to monitor hotspots the following morning, but the fire showed no signs of roaring back to life. According to The Drive, it’s unclear whether the Jeep was on a sanctioned route or not, but it’s clear that driving through foreign territory without a backup recovery vehicle providing the security of a winch is not particularly smart. Then again, the Jeep may not have been near a tree or other potential anchor point for a winch anyway. Of course, the driver may not have been aware of the damage they would cause. Temperature readouts on the dashboard show coolant and oil, not catalytic converter temperatures, and the parts of the exhaust can exceed 1,500°F when the engine has been revved high in a misguided attempt to extricate the vehicle. Doubtless, doing this only dug the Jeep deeper, and given how wet the ground appears to have been, the possibility of fire likely never even entered the driver’s mind.
Stick to Trails, and Use the Correct Equipment
Jeep
This incident highlights how important it is to stick to sanctioned trails and use the right vehicle for the job, and it’s far from isolated. Drivers have gotten stuck in Death Valley and other locations around the country because of taking their vehicles where they’re not legally allowed, or for using vehicles not equipped with 4×4 for challenging trails. Hopefully, this fire in Florida will serve as a warning to all that warning signs and demarcated trails exist for a reason, and not following them can have disastrous consequences that will take years to repair. Fauna have been displaced, flora has been burned, and a vehicle has been destroyed, all because a Jeep didn’t stick to a trail.
Â
