Community Chat

[Kachina624]

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@Lilysmom1 wrote:

@Kachina624 @On It The last report I heard from Jasper was that no one was permitted in the area but firefighters with breathing apparatus.  Even some firefighters were evacuated.  The focus now is to save critical infrastructure.

There are currently 400 fires in BC.  Some of them have been burning all year.  There are 173 in Alberta.

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@Lilysmom1. The Canadians posting on Facebook yesterday (lots of them) were having a fit that the government has done nothing about the fires.  Apparently they don't even have access to planes dropping fire suppressant. 

The loss of Jasper makes me sick, just like the mess in Ruidoso has done.

[SilleeMee]

@Kachina624 

I dragged out my air purifier which I usually don't run until winter when all of my windows are shut. But with all of the smoke we've been having during each and every summer, I think I'll just run it all yearlong. It does seem to help me. That and some extra eye drops.

[Lilysmom1]

@Kachina624 I believe the fire is so intense air traffic has been banned so that must be affecting the fire suppressant drops.  Two huge fires merged into one.  36,000 hectares was the number I last heard.

As you will remember, my brother lives in Kamloops in the interior of BC where the wildfires have been out of control for some time.  Some of them burn all year.  These are in unpopulated areas.

One complaint I have heard is that the forests were decimated by pine beetles and there was a lot of deadwood adding fuel to the fire.  Those comments were aimed at the Feds.   Federal election around the corner (2025) so some posturing going on.

The details are sparse.  More will come out in the next few days.  

Of course Jasper is a national treasure so emotions are running high.

All of these big environmental events (fire, floods, etc) are devastating to the local communities in both of our countries.  We saw it here in Nova Scotia last year.  I am praying for all affected.

[Kachina624]

@Lilysmom1 

Federal election around the corner (2025) so some posturing going on.

How well we know!!!

Our biggest fire ever happened 3 years ago when 2 fires merged as the result of a controlled burn by the US Forest Service.  The lawsuits may go on forever.

[Lilysmom1]

@Kachina624 Latest is 1/3 of the town of Jasper has some or total damage.  Good news is ciritical infrastructure (schools, hospitals, etc) are ok.  So, 2/3rds are ok.  Complaints coming about why a fire break around the perimeter of the town wasn't in place.

Crews from across Canada and abroad are helping out.  The army has been called in to assist.

BC still has more than 400 fires.  My brother comes home every summer to get away from the poor air quality.

[PamfromCT]

Along with all those affected by the fires, people and wildlife, too, God bless the fire fighters who risk their lives.  They put their lives on the line, which is their job and a special calling.

I have a great affinity with them.  My mother's cousin's grandson, born, raised, and educated in Massachusetts, decided fighting large fires would be his vocation in life.  He did spend a good amount of time pursuing his vocation in the.western US, but lost his life in a terrible training accident.  Roughly ten or eleven years ago.  Mark Urban is listed as one of the fallen.  He was a brave young man, and I will forever be proud of him.