Wildfire

Image courtesy The Oregonian. This is not AI.

It’s on so many minds today. As it was yesterday. And will be tomorrow.

Portland (and the Tigard suburb, where I live) has been spared most of the smoke. Wildfires are raging, very close to us, but the onshore windflow from the sea is taking our Oregon smoke to Washington state, and eastern Oregon and to Idaho state. Most of the population of my state is breathing clean air most of the time.

View of the sun through smoke, as seen from the Veteran’s hospital in Portland.

As you can see from the images, Portland is not always exempt. Sometimes the wind shifts. As much as I hate the smoke, and the smell of campfire in the air, and the orange light, and the difficulty breathing, I think it’s important that the capital city (Salem), and the largest city (Portland), experience this every so often, so we don’t forget. Lawmakers and city leaders need to be reminded that people are fighting for their lives, their livestock, and their homes, while we blissfully breathe and look at blue skies.

Often our Apple weather app defaults to precipitation maps, or temperature maps, but you know things are bad when the image defaults to Air Quality map.

Air quality of 0-50 is supposed to be safe to breathe. Values of 51-100 are considered ok for most people, but not for people sensitive to poor air. Values of 101-150 may be fine for people, but sensitive people need to remain indoors. 151-200 is bad for everyone. So far, my area has not reached the 151 level.

My brother lives in Walla Walla, Washington. They have reached 200. I worry for them because it’s been day after day of breathing smoke, and they are raising my tiny nephew, who just turned 2 months old. He is part of the vulnerable group of people.

I had my seat neighbor take this photo for me on a recent flight. (Smears and smudges courtesy a toddler on a flight before ours, I assume)

Tuesday, I returned from a trip to Boston to visit friends. The view above is what we saw on approach at Portland. In the image, just below the wing you can see the top of volcano Mt. Jefferson, and the cluster of dark peaks behind it are the Three Sisters. Mt. Hood is out of this view, just to the right.

What we casually thought was a layer of clouds at first glance, is actually a layer of smoke. This is the Grasshopper fire, currently burning Mt. Hood National Forest.

The woman beside me in the aisle seat looked out the window and said, “It’s so beautiful! The clouds and the sky and the mountains!” I waited, but she didn’t notice. I said, “That’s smoke.” She did a double-take and gasped.

Yeah. That is the appropriate response from us all, watching fires burn the world down. Gasp. And then let’s ask our higher powers to send rain.

3 thoughts on “Wildfire”

I worked on some fire lines in the ’70’s while living in Maine. They put us temp workers, on the secondary line with “Indian” water backpacks, putting out hot spots after the main crew had moved on. Being right there, and seeing the damage is something more people should experience so they understand what’s being lost, and the real cost.

Also being kind of in the “thick of it” where you are is not something most people will appreciate far from it.

Fire is a horrible experience. Hope the smoke won’t affect you too much Crystal. Wear a mask when you have to go outside at least

Yes, I would’ve done a double-take too….but you can clearly see the line of fires if you look closely. So sad. I hope all the firefighters stay safe. I’m grateful for their hard work!