Alberta , Canada , has had, and is having a very serious wildfire season.
Today, there are about 130 fires burning and about 30 of them out of control.
We've had hot dry windy weather which makes great conditions for the fires to burn and very hard to fight the fires. The wild fires are large and very fast moving. The fires are more intense than in previous years.
These fires have started earlier in the season than usual. The spring fire season is usually short if we have lots of winter snow and a wet spring. Then the vegetation leafs out and is hard to burn.
The nearest fire is about 150 km from me. Many people have had to leave towns and farms.
The area is mixed with heavy forest, ranching, farming and undeveloped poor land. It seems like the fire likes these areas and can rip through it very quickly.
We were not bothered with smoke until two days ago. The fire has been burning for three weeks but the smoke has moved across Canada to Ontario and then south. My daughter, who lives in the Chicago area reports that they have smoke from the fires and that we have made the news there.
It seems that the government is very slow to bring in extra equipment and crews to fight the fire.
All we can hope for is some substantial rain.
I missed the news tonight, but last night when I watched the news, I thought of you and wondered if you were affected.
ReplyDeleteI am not effected except that we now have smoke. That's not to say that a fire couldn't start here.
DeleteThe fires in Alberta have even made the BBC news here in the UK, so I realised things must be pretty serious. I hope they soon manage to get the situation under control.
ReplyDeletethe last two days the wind has been light. In three days there is rain but we'll see if we actually get any.
DeleteThis business of wild fired is becoming very serious.
ReplyDeleteWild fires are much more intense now than before.
DeleteSounds awful! I hope lots of rain arrives soon.
ReplyDeletethere's rain in the forecast but it could disappear. It's only 70 -80 % chance.
DeleteI hope you get some rain, as well. It is tragic.
ReplyDeletethe fires are very intense under these conditions.
DeleteThere were fires when we were out there in 2000, but I think they were mostly in Montana back then. We experienced the smoke more when we crossed the border (Shelby, I think) on the way home.
ReplyDeleteFire intensity and number is much more than before.
DeleteIt sure seems early for all that fire danger. I hope it clears up soon, my friend. It's no fun at all to see our forests burn like that.
ReplyDeleteIt's very dry here so good conditions for fire.
DeleteCorrection: Chicago area is NOT experiencing any smoke from these fires. Yes, we have heard it in the news here, so you know it's serious stuff.
ReplyDeleteI admit my guilt. I wasn't listening very well the other day.
DeleteYesterday afternoon, our sun disappeared behind a veil of smoke at 2000 feet altitude and I pondered where it was coming from. Now I know.
ReplyDeleteWe like spreading things around.
DeleteI was just reading about the Alberta fires in the news here. The smoke has made it to several northern states. I was surprised that the fire season happens in spring there. Our wildfire season in California rages in the late summer and fall. Hope all goes well there.
ReplyDeleteOur main fire season is in the fall. It's just that this is a very bad spring.
DeleteMy son said he noticed the hazy smoke when he was out jogging this morning and it made the sunrise look "cool"! I live in the Chicagoland are also. Hope you stay safe up there, Red!
ReplyDeleteMany communities have been evacuated but there hasn't been any loss of life.
DeleteThe fires have been in the Irish news the last week or two. Let's hope you get some much needed rain very soon.
ReplyDeleteWe have rain in the forecast. It's 70 - 80 % so maybe we won't get rain.
DeleteWe've seen sunsets affected by the smoke here too.
ReplyDeletethere's just massive amount of burning.
DeleteMid-May seems a strange time for these fires. I had heard about them via the BBC News website. I hope you get your rain very soon. Climate charts for central Alberta suggest that Late May into early June is usually the wettest time of the year.
ReplyDeleteYes, we get most of our precipitation at that time but conditions are very, very dry now.
DeleteClimate change, I'm afraid, is affecting even beautiful Alberta.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely climate change.
DeleteIt's disturbing that conditions are so conducive to fires this early in the year - what will the summer and fall be like? Smoke can travel a long distance. One summer the smoke from fires in Quebec was easily seen and smelled here in Nova Scotia. I hope you get rain - and extra help from other provinces and countries - very soon. Stay safe, Red & Micromanager.
ReplyDeleteWe get most of our precipitation in June and July so I hope that comes and dampens things down. We are not in the main fire zone but we could certainly have a wildfire right in the city.
DeleteI pray you get rain soon!
ReplyDeleteThankyou.
DeleteMy brother and I were talking about the fires in Alberta and here in Saskatchewan as well. We have fewer, just 26 and least 6-8 of them are not under control at this time. Part of the issue, this early is the ice hasn't yet gone out on the lakes, thus the tankers can't pick up the water needed to fight the fires. I do know that Alberta was slow on the uptake too in getting crews and equipment where they were needed. Here, next door, we're limited as well as much of the equipment has been sent to Alberta. It certainly is a reminder that Mother Nature is always in charge.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the ice on the lakes. Fire fighting equipment seems to be just too easy to cut from the budget. At least we haven't had any loss of life.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThe fires and the smoke sound scary. Stay safe! Take care, have a happy weekend.
Actually, I saw the news here in England, too! I'd send you rain if I could!
ReplyDeleteWow! Into Chicago? That's amazing! I'll have to ask my daughter about this.
ReplyDeleteIt was bad last week Tuesday thru Thursday then it cleared, made for some tough breathing days. Praying for rain for Canada and Minnesota too! Connie
ReplyDeleteHi Red, I’m a little late getting to the party but had to say something about the smoke. Yes, sir, on our evening news one of the first reports was about the smoke in Seattle and the story that most of it was coming from Alberta. They showed a map where the wildfires are, and it looked like just about all of them are north of you in Northern Alberta. So, yes, I can imagine you had a lot of smoke there in Red Deer and Canada is sharing it with all of the Pacific Northwest. 😊 Have a happy week ahead! John
ReplyDeletesorry for the fires dear Red !
ReplyDeletethree weeks sound quite long for not having rains already