Summer is here with record temperatures, record water shortage and record number of forest and wild fires. No campfires allowed, water restrictions in effect.
Vancouver Island, so far relatively less affected by wild fires than the mainland, has received a share of mainland smoke this morning.
Due to a change in wind direction, a gigantic cloud of smoke generated mostly be the out of control fire in Pemberton Meadows north east of Vancouver, has drifted over the Strait of Georgia and blanketed half of the Island with a dense layer of yellowish orange smoke. Visibility is reduced as much, than nearby smaller islands, such as the Gulf Islands, are barely visible. The sun appears like a orange red sharply delineated disk in the strangely coloured haze. Small white ash particles settle on everything, and cars look as if dusted with fine cigarette ash.
Temperatures range between the mid twenties to the high thirties Celsius - and not a sign of relief for the next days....or weeks....
Thousands of homes have been evacuated as a precaution. The country is tinder dry, and even hot exhaust from a car could start a conflagration. High Alert all around....not a good time to go camping in the woods or anywhere for that matter.
Stay home, draw the curtains, create a draft during the cooler hours of the night, be thankful for the still free flowing drinking water and sweat it out.
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| Bowen Island just off the Vancouver Coast, with the Coastal Mountains faintly outlined in the smoky haze. |
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| Pemberton Meadows Fire....still spreading |
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| My community is right underneath the huge layer of smoke over the southern part of Vancouver Island |
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| 500 km in total length, the southern half of Vancouver Island is hidden under a vast cloud of smoke. |
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| The Road to Hell |
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| Fie Fighters, water bombers, helicopters - all out in droves....a formidable challenge for the brave teams |
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| Dowtown Vancouver under a yellow sky |
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| Burrard Inlet, Vancouver |
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| At times the sun was visible as a fiery disk in the sky...a scene which could be the backdrop of a 'the end of the world' science fiction movie. So - all is pretty hot and dry at the home front. All hope for rain, rain, rain - preferably without thunder and lightning, as that may aggravate the fire situation further through lighting strikes. Photos gathered from publication and private snap shots..... |
