Wildfire(s) Out West

brianlux

Here's the same view as top picture from yesterday. Not only increased smoke, but no relief so far. Looks like no walk today.

Latest update shows 29,585 acres with zero % containment. Going on 5 times as big as 24 hours ago.

Zod

The smoke has arrived here on Vancouver Island :(  So close to make it through forest fire season without seeing smoke.  It's also not lost on me that I never saw forest fire smoke here until 10 to 15 years ago.  There never really was a forest fire season growing up here as a kid (like be care it's forest fire season, but not a "there's smoke everywhere" season.

brianlux

Zod said:

The smoke has arrived here on Vancouver Island :(  So close to make it through forest fire season without seeing smoke.  It's also not lost on me that I never saw forest fire smoke here until 10 to 15 years ago.  There never really was a forest fire season growing up here as a kid (like be care it's forest fire season, but not a "there's smoke everywhere" season.

It's strange to think of large, smokey fires up your way. 
I lived on the other side of the strait from Vancouver Island near Sequim/ Port Angels from 1992 to 1996 and never saw, heard of, or thought about big fires up there.  I'm very sorry to hear about what's become more normal up there that way.

I moved back to my home state and have lived here in El Dorado County, California since 1996.  Until about 5 years ago it was "I hope we don't get a big fire this year", and often did not.  Now it's more like, "When will this first big fire hit us this year?"  Every year now, it's the same thing- big fires and bad air for several weeks to as much as three months.  I really need to get out of this place... but where?  It's hard to imagine leaving the west coast, but it's all one big fire and drought disaster almost all up and down the west coast now. 
It's all terribly sad and depressing.

Zod

brianlux said:

Zod said:

The smoke has arrived here on Vancouver Island :(  So close to make it through forest fire season without seeing smoke.  It's also not lost on me that I never saw forest fire smoke here until 10 to 15 years ago.  There never really was a forest fire season growing up here as a kid (like be care it's forest fire season, but not a "there's smoke everywhere" season.

It's strange to think of large, smokey fires up your way. 
I lived on the other side of the strait from Vancouver Island near Sequim/ Port Angels from 1992 to 1996 and never saw, heard of, or thought about big fires up there.  I'm very sorry to hear about what's become more normal up there that way.

I moved back to my home state and have lived here in El Dorado County, California since 1996.  Until about 5 years ago it was "I hope we don't get a big fire this year", and often did not.  Now it's more like, "When will this first big fire hit us this year?"  Every year now, it's the same thing- big fires and bad air for several weeks to as much as three months.  I really need to get out of this place... but where?  It's hard to imagine leaving the west coast, but it's all one big fire and drought disaster almost all up and down the west coast now. 
It's all terribly sad and depressing.

Actually, we don't get too many big fires on Vancouver Island (we seem to fair better than the rest of BC and the US).  Our challenge is the fires are getting so big along the west coast, that the smoke drifts into our area.  The fires can be pretty far away :(

Usually we're better than other parts because the wind usually moves to west to east, with fresh air off the pacific, but sometimes the winds (or lack of winds) can't allow smoke to drift here.

Right now I think it's coming from a fire in washington state that just sprung up :( (middle of the state, not on the coast), so it's travelling pretty quick.

Cropduster-80

On the positive I distinctly remember my dad taking me to Yellowstone after the fires in the late 80’s.  I remember him saying someday when you bring your kids you won’t be able to tell this even happened.

this summer I did bring my kids and he was right.  I can’t remember which sections of the park I saw back then but I looked when there this year and I couldn’t see anything obvious 

brianlux

Zod said:

brianlux said:

Zod said:

The smoke has arrived here on Vancouver Island :(  So close to make it through forest fire season without seeing smoke.  It's also not lost on me that I never saw forest fire smoke here until 10 to 15 years ago.  There never really was a forest fire season growing up here as a kid (like be care it's forest fire season, but not a "there's smoke everywhere" season.

It's strange to think of large, smokey fires up your way. 
I lived on the other side of the strait from Vancouver Island near Sequim/ Port Angels from 1992 to 1996 and never saw, heard of, or thought about big fires up there.  I'm very sorry to hear about what's become more normal up there that way.

I moved back to my home state and have lived here in El Dorado County, California since 1996.  Until about 5 years ago it was "I hope we don't get a big fire this year", and often did not.  Now it's more like, "When will this first big fire hit us this year?"  Every year now, it's the same thing- big fires and bad air for several weeks to as much as three months.  I really need to get out of this place... but where?  It's hard to imagine leaving the west coast, but it's all one big fire and drought disaster almost all up and down the west coast now. 
It's all terribly sad and depressing.

Actually, we don't get too many big fires on Vancouver Island (we seem to fair better than the rest of BC and the US).  Our challenge is the fires are getting so big along the west coast, that the smoke drifts into our area.  The fires can be pretty far away :(

Usually we're better than other parts because the wind usually moves to west to east, with fresh air off the pacific, but sometimes the winds (or lack of winds) can't allow smoke to drift here.

Right now I think it's coming from a fire in washington state that just sprung up :( (middle of the state, not on the coast), so it's travelling pretty quick.

Good deal!  I'm glad it isn't affecting your area for a long time.

Cropduster-80 said:

On the positive I distinctly remember my dad taking me to Yellowstone after the fires in the late 80’s.  I remember him saying someday when you bring your kids you won’t be able to tell this even happened.

this summer I did bring my kids and he was right.  I can’t remember which sections of the park I saw back then but I looked when there this year and I couldn’t see anything obvious 

A very good point- for kids futures. 

Just the other day, my wife and I were talking about how we will very likely not live to see the vast stretch of the El Dorado National Forest that was lost in the Caldor fire (221,835) last year, nor the acreage being lost right now in the Mosquito Fire (currently at 41,443 acres, 10% containment), both in our area.  We based that on the fact that another fire in our area- the Cleveland Fire- is just recently starting to look like a forest again (although its perimeter is still visible because of tree sized differences) and that fire happened 30 years ago.  It's unlikely either my wife or I will be alive in 30 years.  But most kids growing up today will be, and perhaps they will see healthy forests in our area again. 

It's hard for me to be optimistic about California for the relative short-term (in geologic time).  Massive fires that only occurred once in a while things are now a new normal for late summer and much of fall here.  What lies for the future mostly depends on what climate change does and how long the current "mega-drought" lasts- and droughts in this region can last several years or even decades.

PJ_Soul

I sat and watched the smoke roll in on Saturday (coming from all over - more locally, the US, Vancouver Island). It was bright and sunny, and suddenly, at 5pm, I saw a wall of smoke slowly move across the world, and the wall slid across the sun. For a moment half the sun was bright and half the sun was dull orange. It was so weird.

Things are starting to clear now.

brianlux

Moccasin Fire in our area.  We're just down the road from evacuation watch area.  Packing up just in case. Gonna be a long summer.

https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/video/at-least-one-residential-structure-destroyed-in-moccasin-fire-in-el-dorado-county/

Zod

Sorry to hear that.  We seem to be faring ok up here.  My part of BC was (southwest) was the only part of BC that got close to normal rain over the winter.  Lot's of the north is been droughting for a few years.    We had record fires last year, and everything thought it would be worse this year. Luckily it was a cool spring and we didn't have them starting in May again.

brianlux

Zod said:

Sorry to hear that.  We seem to be faring ok up here.  My part of BC was (southwest) was the only part of BC that got close to normal rain over the winter.  Lot's of the north is been droughting for a few years.    We had record fires last year, and everything thought it would be worse this year. Luckily it was a cool spring and we didn't have them starting in May again.

I'm glad your area did OK, but sorry to hear about lack of rain in the north.  The one place I know up there that did well is Ketchikan, AK (I have family and friends there), but that's kind of a no brainer- Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities anywhere, lol.

So far so good here.  Still packed up and ready to go at short notice if need be, but the evacuation notices haven't changed, so that's a good sign. 

brianlux

Just as the Moccasin Fire on the south end of town is looking close to being wrapped up at 85% containment, a new called the Pay Fire is raging. We were on our way into town to run errand and saw the smoke on the east end of town. Within a couple of minute we heard sirens, one after another after another- more than I've ever heard at one time. This one has already grown to 60 acres and spreading quickly. 60 acres is note huge in terms of wildfires, but it is when 0% contained and right at the edge of the main part of town not far from the hospital and quite close to out airport. Very concerning once again.

View from Placerville Airport:

curmudgeoness

Ugh -- stay safe, Brian!

brianlux

curmudgeoness said:

Ugh -- stay safe, Brian!

Thanks so much!  

So far, so good.  This one is only 5% contained, but holding at 77 acres and not moving further into town.  Two wildfires in one week, both so relatively close to the city is unnerving.  That's enough, Mother Nature, thank you!

Spunkie

I'm sorry your season is off to the races! 🫁

brianlux

Spunkie said:

I'm sorry your season is off to the races! 🫁

Thank you! 

Yes, it's getting bad.  A new one just popped up to day in the Sierras a few hours (north of us) called the Royal Fire.  Due to rugged, steep terrain, extreme heat, and crowning and spot fires quickly spreading, this one looks like it's going to me huge. 

Spunkie

I woke up today, looked at the window and did a - is it smokey check. 😅

Glad PJ isn't in EU smoke this time of year!

brianlux

There are currently some very intense, serious fires going on here in the west.

-Alberta: Canadians are mourning the loss of much of Jasper, "the Jewel of the Rockies".  More than a third of the structures have been lost. This is a huge loss.

-Oregon:  Several large wildfires are currently active, including the massive DurKee Fire at 288,689 acres with only 27% containment.

-California:  A very large, incredibly fast moving fire that started only two days ago in Bidell Park (due to arson) on the northeast edge of the University town of Chico (thankfully, most of that city from where I graduated from college the first time is still safe as the fire moves north and northeast from the city).  Current acreage burned is 239,152 with zero% containment and it is exploding.

It truly feels like the whole world is burning here in the west.  If only we had "raked the forest" right?  :sigh: 

tbergs

How about the report of the dumb ass who pushed his burning car into a gully that started the Park Fire. My god, what a moron. There's no punishment severe enough for causing the destruction he has by doing that.

brianlux

tbergs said:

How about the report of the dumb ass who pushed his burning car into a gully that started the Park Fire. My god, what a moron. There's no punishment severe enough for causing the destruction he has by doing that.

I can't even begin to imagine why someone would do that.  He has created a hellish firestorm that has led to the town on Paradise, that burned to the ground just a few years ago, to be evacuated, as well as neighboring Magalia.  And the city of Chico is under evacuation warning.

This fire is exploding.  In less than three days, it has blown up to 307,368 acres, and is expected to be very active again today.  Containment is still at zero%.