Living in a firestorm

[Wickabee]

Where I live in BC, wildfires are just a way of life, not unlike what California goes through each year, but not on quite the same level. In 2003 we had a fire here, the smoke from which actually affected the air quality as far away as Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto, and actually managed to reach all the way to the East coast. That was a bad one.

In '09, an ember from a local mill hopped over the wall into the brush and started a massive fire. I was camping above the area at the time and had to drive off the mountain les than 100 yards from 15 foot tall flames. It was damn hot.

This year, a fire sparked on the mountain right next to my house. Luckily not entirely on this side, and they got to it quickly enough that they were in mop up stage within a few hours. However, it moved a fair amount quite quickly, starting right at the bottom and reaching the top within 10-20 minutes. Reports of trees candling were coming out 5 minutes after what was initially described as a "grass fire" started.

The whole province of BC is on the tail end of two weeks of 40+ degree (40c = 104f, for my American counterparts). The fire near my house could have been bad, as that mountain is basically in the middle of my city.

To the point of the thread, this is turning into one of the worst years, and a front runner up for worst week of all time as far as BC forest fires. Just to let you know what's going on here right now, here's a list of some stuff going down in BC right now.

Apex mountain: About an hour-1 1/2 from me. 313 hectares in size, 0% contained, 0% controlled, evacuation alert in effect.
Mt Boucherie: That the one near me. Knocked down, 100% contained, 100% controlled at the moment, still considered active.
Smith Creek Fire: This past weekend someone left their campfire unattended on the other end of town. That one is out.
Smith Creek/Glenrosa fire: just started about 10 minutes ago. Heavy brush, 0 reports on anything other than it's there and crews are working.
Maka-Murray fire: 400 hectares, 0% contained, 30-35 properties under evacuation order

The biggies this year are up north though, check this out:
Chelaslie River fire: 33,000 hectares in size, a good chunk of the northwest corner of the province on evacuation order
22km Tenakihi fire: 22,000 hectares in size, not near any homes or cities
Mount McAllister fire: 16,000 hectares, 0% contained, evacuation alert in effect

But this one takes the cake:
Red Deer Creek fire: On the BC/Alberta border, 35,000 hectares in size, 0% contained, bearing down on 3 oil/gas camps and 4 bridges.

Before the weekend, we had a usual smattering of lightning strike fires. This week has been ridiculous here though. Just ridiculous.

[Wickabee]

Penticton, a city about 45 minutes south, currently has fires on 3 sides, and a lake on the 4th.

[gsj68]

pretty much the story for western north america,here in Oregon its been pretty mellow but with this heat im sure it will pick up

[Wickabee]

It hasn't been this bad for a few years, and this, I think, is worse than 2009 was (bad year here). What's getting me is how many of these are turning out to be human caused. Leaving campfires unattended, not putting out cigarettes. Humanity's lack of ability to learn terrifies me.

[Wickabee]

If anyone wants to listen in and watch waterbomber pilots making an incredibly difficult job look and sound really easy, list to this: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/smith-...20140718095429

and watch this: http://www.castanet.net/edition/news...01-.htm#119383

[Wickabee]

The fact half my hometown isn't a pile of ashes is a testament to the work 75 ground crews, 7 airplane pilots, and 5 helicopter pilots are doing.

Good news is the one power line supplying all 40,000+ of us is still standing. Fire has kept a solid 110m away all day. That should be fine, right?

[mrveggieman]

Sorry to hear about that man. Praying for you, your fam and your neighboors.

[Wickabee]

Most people are back in their homes but still on alert. Ground and air crews have kept the fire to 260ht and pretty much burning on itself with no mevement. I've been hiking in a few spot near that area. Ground crews have some really difficult landscape to work with, but have done and are doing a helluva job. A bit of rain last night helped as well and the people still evacuated could be going home as early as this afternoon.

Helluva weekend though!

And thanks veg. I appreciate it.

[deansayso]

Yeah we are getting your smoke here in NW Iowa...Crazy!

Be safe!