Portions of the Franklin State Forest on the Franklin-Marion county line have been temporarily closed after threats of “spiking,” a form of industrial sabotage that could lead to serious or fatal injuries, according to state forestry officials.
Sometime in the past week, forestry officials received claims that areas of the state forest where loggers are harvesting trees have been “spiked,” forestry officials said in a statement on the closure.
“If areas have been spiked, this poses a very serious threat to the safety of forest visitors, state forest management staff and logging crews, as well as locals employed at sawmills,” state officials said in the statement.
Spiking is a form of forest industry sabotage in which a metal rod or other material is hammered into a tree trunk either near the base of a tree where a logger or firefighter might cut, or higher where it would affect a sawmill, officials said. Contact with the spike damages saw blades, and can cause pieces of metal and wood to fly and make chainsaws kick back, which can result in serious injuries or death to workers or firefighters. Spiking also hurts tree health.
The closure affects half the forest, east of state Route 156, which lies mostly on the Marion County side. Pole Bridge Road and other forestry roads that branch off in Franklin County are also in the closure area. The incident is now part of an investigation involving the Tennessee Division of Forestry’s agricultural crime unit and the FBI, which also are conducting an investigation into more than $1 million in vandalism to state-owned equipment in the forest in July.
“Due to these dangerous criminal activities, we must once again restrict access to Franklin State Forest to protect visitors and professionals on the forest,” State Forester Heather Slayton said in the statement. “Tree spiking poses a serious risk of injury or death during both harvesting and processing. If those responsible for the threats have placed spikes, they are endangering lives, which is absolutely unacceptable.”
Officials didn’t elaborate on what criminal charges could be involved. Public information officials with the forestry division did not respond to calls or emails seeking more details.
“We believe these threats to be connected to opposition to active management practices on Franklin State Forest,” Andy McBride, state forest unit leader, said in the statement. “The state forest system exists, first and foremost, to demonstrate sustainable forest resource management.”
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The temporary closure to foot traffic, horseback riding, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles and other motorized vehicles will remain in place until the investigation is complete and the area has been deemed safe for the public again, state officials said. There is no effect on access to state forest land west of state Route 156, and it remains open to the public.
Closed areas will be marked by locked gates or signs, and law enforcement is monitoring the area for anyone trespassing during the closure, officials said.
The ongoing investigation stems from theft and vandalism of state-owned equipment sometime between July 10 and July 14. Officials said five state bulldozers and one bulldozer transporter, all used primarily for wildfires, were vandalized and some related equipment was stolen.
A $10,000 reward for information in the vandalism and theft case remains unclaimed, officials said. The forest was closed for that investigation until Aug. 26. There were three arrests during the theft and vandalism closure related to evading arrest and fleeing law enforcement.
Anyone with information about the spiking threats or the theft and vandalism case is urged to call 844-242-7463 or email agriculture.crime@tn.gov.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.