Jul 10, 2017
We only see smoke and smell smoke
Normally the wildfire season does not begin until the end of July and continues through most of August. It is early this year. Our province/state is burning. Personally that means that our business is totally affected. Everyone wants perfect blue sky in their commercial photos. Not going to happen. Each year it gets worse. I came across this very long article but most interesting about the causes of climate change. In fact it outlines the future of the world as we know it and it portrays a frightening future. Click here to read it. It was published in the New York Magazine yesterday on July 9th.
I took this photo 48 hours ago. My purpose was to show you the interesting contours in the landscape and the variations of colour. Usually at this time of year there is no green, just drab dried out grass.
I took the almost exact photo just two hours ago. All one sees is smoke. Of course the smell is thick and heavy. Your eyes begin to sting and water the moment you step outside.
Our province has at least 225 fires burning. Very few of them are under control. This particular fire grew by 33% overnight.
Province wide over 8,500 people have been evacuated. That could actually be 8,500 homes, I am not sure which it is. Air tankers are on the way from Saskatchewan. As are over 300 firefighters from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick to come help us.
I am not sure what this is but it circled a while before being cleared to land at the airport. It is a huge beast. Three Canadian Forces Griffon helicopters have already been sent here but they are somewhat smaller. Other aircraft are on their way to carry emergency personal & equipment. Locals airlines are decreasing their fares so that evacuees can head to other locations to be with friends or family.
The wonderful people who live in Fort McMurray are sending supplies to help those who have been evacuated. We all helped them last summer when their town burned due to a wildfire. I have no idea how the BC emergency personal are handling all of this. They are still not quite done with the flooding and now this.
This was taken yesterday. Just two days ago we awoke to a light dusting on ash on our vehicles.
Today, it is worse. We can no longer even see the mountains.
There is no rain in the forecast. I am willing to bet anything that those forecasted sunny days will be smoke filled.
Our province is a magnet for tourists in the summer. Everyone wants to come and visit Beautiful B.C. They come to camp and enjoy campfires. They come to ATV. They are smokers who mostly throw their butts out the window. Gee we just had a fire down the road last night caused by a tossed butt. Fortunately a province wide campfire ban has been issued. Now we need to issue an ATV ban ( their sparks are the causes of many fires. ) and to issue a no smoking ban. Granted some of the fires north of us have been caused by lightening strikes but the majority are human caused. Perhaps B.C. should issue a non resident ban for the months of July and August.
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PEOPLE CAN BE SO CARELESS. IN ALL THE YEARS I SMOKED, I NEVER THREW A CIGGIE OUT THE CAR WINDOW. TRAIN SPARKS ALSO IGNITE FIRES ALONG WITH THE LIGHTNING STRIKES. YEG IS VERY SMOKY TODAY AS WELL. INHALER USED BIG TIME TODAY AND STINGY EYES. SORRY YOU ARE LOSING BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE. THAT’S NOT GOOD. NEED SOME SOAKING, BUT NOT FLOODING, RAIN TO HELP WITH THE FIRES AND SMOKE. HUGS.
Good luck with all those wildfires and hope you don’t need to evacuate again.
“Perhaps B.C. should issue a non resident ban for the months of July and August.”
I laughed bitterly at this. You might be right.
Sorry this is proving to be a tough summer.
Sadly we have seen some pretty careless BC residents with campfires and atv’s. No fixing stupid! From flooding to fires this is nuts. The air quality is definately a big concern as it likely to become worse before it is better. Sad that your business is being impacted. Take care you two.
Cheers
Oddly the smoke hasn’t really come over the island but we have had winds pretty much every day. It is not even that hot here, 22 degrees and unlike other years we only have 1 small fire on the island. Where I went to highschool (Quesnel) is right in the middle of the fire zones. So sad. I am donating today to the Red Cross, the best way I know how to show my support. Fire is such a terrible thing and after all the flooding I am sure some are being affected twice. Sorry about your business, but I know you are close to retirement and hopefully things will get sorted soon – praying for rain!
Chinook Helicopter……