By Christine Clarridge 3 September 2017 (The Seattle Times) – With the hottest and driest time of the year upon us, fires are continuing to rage in the Pacific Northwest, threatening homes and forcing evacuations in Oregon, Eastern Washington, and British Columbia. The fires are consuming hundreds of thousands of acres, trapping hikers and causing […]
By Evan Bush 5 September 2017 (The Seattle Times) – Ash fell like snow in Seattle Tuesday morning as Washington’s wildfires sent plumes of smoke into the atmosphere. It was so thick that dispatchers serving Eastside Fire Rescue received concerned calls about smoke in the area and ash settling on cars. “There is no local […]
By Bob Henson 3 September 2017 (Weather Underground) – The steamy, fiery summer of 2017 hit a new crescendo this weekend across the U.S. West, which is getting its hottest Labor Day weekend on record in many locations—and in some spots, the hottest weather ever observed. Overall, “this is the greatest statewide heat wave ever […]
By Ruben Vives, Andrea Castillo, and Alene Tchekmedyian 2 September 2017 (The Los Angeles Times) – A brush fire in the Verdugo Mountains north of downtown Los Angeles has burned more than 5,000 acres, making it one of the largest fires in the city’s history and one that officials warn could grow larger if erratic weather […]
By Joseph Serna 1 September 2017 (The Los Angeles Times) – The heat wave that has gripped California for a week took a dramatic turn Thursday as lightning storms sparked brush fires, knocked out power to thousands and caused downpours across the region. Forecasters said the extreme weather will continue through the weekend, with some […]
KAMLOOPS, B.C., 28 August 2017 (The Canadian Press) – British Columbia’s premier spent Monday touring some communities affected by this year’s unprecedented wildfire season, promising financial assistance but cautioning it will take more than cheques to help with the recovery. John Horgan said it will take years for ranchers, tourism operators and communities to recover […]
By Mika McKinnon 11 August 2017 KAMLOOPS, British Columbia (New Scientist) – It’s stiflingly hot and I’m trapped inside a dome of smoke. I know I’m in a river valley nestled within mountain ranges, but the visibility is cut so low that I can’t see any of the dramatic peaks that dominate landscapes across British […]
By Mike Laanela and Brady Strachan Aug 22, 2017 (CBC News) – Hundreds of firefighters and dozens of aircraft are working to contain the largest wildfire ever recorded in British Columbia’s history. Nineteen wildfires have merged in the province’s Interior, creating a single blaze that’s estimated to be more than 467,000 hectares [1.15 million acres] […]
By Colin Seftor 15 August 2017 (NASA) – I plan to post more about smoke from the fires burning both in Canada and Russia. But I did want to post this particular item. Over the last couple of days, OMPS has recorded the largest aerosol index values ever seen since TOMS measurements started in 1978 […]
By Greg Fry 19 August 2017 Williams Lake, B.C. (250 News) – This summer has been the worst wildfire season on record in British Columbia and as a result those fighting the blazes and others working in emergency management have been working harder than ever. However, Chris Duffy, executive director of operations with Emergency Management […]