McKinley Fire: first pictures
Deshka Landing Fire closing in on another residential area
Levelock Fire crosses dozer lines
Alaska calls for reinforcements from Lower 48 firefighters
Swan Lake Fire 20% contained
Smoky Skies in the Forecast
Readers, please pray for rain for south-central Alaska, if you're the praying sort. We could sure use the moisture to break this drought, knock down the fires, and help clear the air. Some of us are having trouble breathing.
John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
Showing posts with label smoke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smoke. Show all posts
21 August 2019
21 July 2016
Wildfire Update
The winds shifted earlier this morning, and smoke from the wildfire (about a mile south of Anchorage) is now drifting across the Anchorage landscape. It's smokier on the ground than this photo makes it look.
We were getting occasional whiffs of the smell at home this morning, which a half-hour drive from here.
But there's good news: it started to sprinkle as I left home, and was a full-blown rain by the time I reached work. AccuHunch guesses we'll get nearly a half-inch of rain every day for the next week or so.
The fire has grown to some 845 acres as of this morning, but slowly. It's not advancing in any particular direction, they say, but merely expanding.
Everyone is going to be very, VERY glad about the rain, because the firefighters can't get to the fire. Why? Glad you asked - THIS is why:
27 May 2014
Funny River Fire Isn't Funny
Updates from KTUU Channel 2's website:
We have a three-stage HEPA filter on the air-handler in my building, and sonuvagun if there wasn't ash on everything in my office this morning. No wonder 80 percent of the people in Anchorage have runny noses & congestion.
State fire officials report that five structures -- four recreational cabins, one of which was privately owned, plus an outbuilding -- have burned in the Funny River fire as of Tuesday afternoon. None of the four cabins were being used as primary residences, and all of them were only accessible by four-wheeler or boat.
An evacuation advisory has been canceled for residents living in the Feuding Lane and Kenai Keys Road area.
While officials believe a wildfire near the villages of Tyonek and Beluga is showing signs of containment, they believe the Funny River Fire on the Kenai Peninsula has spread across a larger area. Hundreds of firefighters from across Alaska, around the Lower 48 and Canada try to get the fires under control.
Alaska Interagency Incident Management officials report less than one inch of rain to fall on the Funny River, Kenai area. It wasn’t much, but it has been enough for crews to conduct some mop-up efforts as well as provide area residents the opportunity to take further preventative measures.* * * * *
We have a three-stage HEPA filter on the air-handler in my building, and sonuvagun if there wasn't ash on everything in my office this morning. No wonder 80 percent of the people in Anchorage have runny noses & congestion.
26 May 2014
The Smoke is Back
We awoke to more smoke and ash this morning; the skies are amber and the sunlight is thin, and discolored.
The smoke has spread as far north/northeast as Tok, some 350 miles from the fire. Breathing problems abound in Anchorage and the Mat-Su, but those in the fire zone have it far worse. Many of them have been displaced by the fire, and are staying in shelters now. There's a call out for supplies from the Red Cross.
We'll be leaving the windows closed again today, despite expected temps in the 60s. The weather forecast includes rain in the upcoming week, including tomorrow. Since we've had almost no rain at all in three months, it will be most welcome. The hundreds of firefighters battling the rapidly spreading fire on the Kenai Peninsula could use it, too.
We'll be heading to Cabela's in a bit, but I want to take one more opportunity to thank the families of our fallen servicemen and women, who gave their last, full measure of devotion for the rest of us.
Remember what our freedom has cost.
The smoke has spread as far north/northeast as Tok, some 350 miles from the fire. Breathing problems abound in Anchorage and the Mat-Su, but those in the fire zone have it far worse. Many of them have been displaced by the fire, and are staying in shelters now. There's a call out for supplies from the Red Cross.
We'll be leaving the windows closed again today, despite expected temps in the 60s. The weather forecast includes rain in the upcoming week, including tomorrow. Since we've had almost no rain at all in three months, it will be most welcome. The hundreds of firefighters battling the rapidly spreading fire on the Kenai Peninsula could use it, too.
We'll be heading to Cabela's in a bit, but I want to take one more opportunity to thank the families of our fallen servicemen and women, who gave their last, full measure of devotion for the rest of us.
Remember what our freedom has cost.
22 May 2014
Kenai Fire Doubles in Size ... Again (Updated)
The talking heads on Fox News gushed breathlessly about "hundreds of acres burning" in Arizona. Of course, that made the newscast.
We have over 44,000 acres burning, a few miles south of Anchorage. No one south of British Columbia gives a rip; at least they sent tanker aircraft here to help.
Here's what Anchorage looks like, right now:
The weatherman predicts that the southerly winds will switch to the north/northwest by mid-day, and push much of the smoke back toward the Peninsula.
Of course, the tenants in my building wasted no time (yesterday) complaining about the smell of smoke inside.
I'd be happy to consider an alternate source of atmosphere, if they'd care to point one out ...
We have over 44,000 acres burning, a few miles south of Anchorage. No one south of British Columbia gives a rip; at least they sent tanker aircraft here to help.
 |
| The wildfire burning on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has swelled to more than 44,000 acres.(adn.com) |
Here's what Anchorage looks like, right now:
 |
| Anchorage at 6:42 a.m. today |
The weatherman predicts that the southerly winds will switch to the north/northwest by mid-day, and push much of the smoke back toward the Peninsula.
Of course, the tenants in my building wasted no time (yesterday) complaining about the smell of smoke inside.
I'd be happy to consider an alternate source of atmosphere, if they'd care to point one out ...
01 June 2010
Smoke Gets in our Eyes
Smoke from the Eklutna Lake forest fire fills the Eklutna valley yesterday.
Eklutna Lake wildfire grows to 1,300 acres
A fire burning near Eklutna Lake roared to the north Monday, growing from an estimated 300 acres to 1,300. Click the link to read more.08 July 2009
Smoke on the Water
(cue Deep Purple, Machine Head, 1972 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jp3de50_d8 just for kicks)
The smoke from the wildfires to the north and south has completely blanketed Anchorage & points south. The mountains were faint this morning; this afternoon, they're not visible.
The smell of burning grass (no, not that kind ... the kind you grow on the average lawn) fills the air. People's eyes are beginning to water, but I haven't heard any complaints yet.
The smell takes me back to days on the fire line, chasing brushfires in Missouri. The heat I mentioned in a previous post was fully in force, as we traipsed across blackened fields and smoldering woodlands while wearing Indian-brand pumps on our backs. Those galvanized, metal tanks held 5 gallons of water, and must have weighed around 50 pounds when full.
So a line of men (didn't have any females on the team at that point) would be pumping those things furiously, squirting what seemed a pitifully small amount of water at vegetation that was so dry it practically laughed at us.
The humidity had the effect of soaking us through with our own perspiration before we got to the fire. Once there, the heat would dry us on the side facing the fire, while sweat ran down our backs. Every breath became an effort, as the smoke clogged nostrils and made eyes squint and water. Hot air and smoke scorched our throats, which became too dry to swallow. We prayed for a brush truck and cursed the galvanized water tanks on our backs ... all the while wishing for more water.
There were usually at least two Boy Scout Explorers running a water jug up and down the line, trying to get a cool drink to us. That was a welcome break which never lasted long enough.
Once a pumper got to our positions, we'd be looking for a place - any place - to take off those damnable pumps. The emptier they were, the easier that task became.
Occasionally a man would go down from muscle cramps while on the line; we'd have to pull him away from the heat, calling for drinking water, and administering a salt tablet once water was there. More than once, we'd squirt water from a tank into his cupped hands, so he could wash the tablet down.
Later, we started carrying an iced cooler of Gatorade on the 'new' brush truck - a recycled '72 Chevy pickup bought from the Army Reserve - which had a 150-gallon water tank and a motorized pump in the bed. That helped us a lot.
I lived close to the station house & was usually able to get there first, when a call came. First to arrive meant I got to drive whichever piece of apparatus was required. On structural fires, I wanted to go in and attack the beast; on grass fires, I preferred to be engineer.
I suspect my back would let me know in no uncertain terms what it thinks if I tried to pick up a loaded Indian pump now. For better or for worse, I'm in a different line of work, these days.
Well, I need to go replace a tail light bulb in my wife's car. TTFN!
Oh! and the reference to smoke on the water? Anchorage is a port city, hence its name. : )
The smoke from the wildfires to the north and south has completely blanketed Anchorage & points south. The mountains were faint this morning; this afternoon, they're not visible.
The smell of burning grass (no, not that kind ... the kind you grow on the average lawn) fills the air. People's eyes are beginning to water, but I haven't heard any complaints yet.
The smell takes me back to days on the fire line, chasing brushfires in Missouri. The heat I mentioned in a previous post was fully in force, as we traipsed across blackened fields and smoldering woodlands while wearing Indian-brand pumps on our backs. Those galvanized, metal tanks held 5 gallons of water, and must have weighed around 50 pounds when full.
So a line of men (didn't have any females on the team at that point) would be pumping those things furiously, squirting what seemed a pitifully small amount of water at vegetation that was so dry it practically laughed at us.
The humidity had the effect of soaking us through with our own perspiration before we got to the fire. Once there, the heat would dry us on the side facing the fire, while sweat ran down our backs. Every breath became an effort, as the smoke clogged nostrils and made eyes squint and water. Hot air and smoke scorched our throats, which became too dry to swallow. We prayed for a brush truck and cursed the galvanized water tanks on our backs ... all the while wishing for more water.
There were usually at least two Boy Scout Explorers running a water jug up and down the line, trying to get a cool drink to us. That was a welcome break which never lasted long enough.
Once a pumper got to our positions, we'd be looking for a place - any place - to take off those damnable pumps. The emptier they were, the easier that task became.
Occasionally a man would go down from muscle cramps while on the line; we'd have to pull him away from the heat, calling for drinking water, and administering a salt tablet once water was there. More than once, we'd squirt water from a tank into his cupped hands, so he could wash the tablet down.
Later, we started carrying an iced cooler of Gatorade on the 'new' brush truck - a recycled '72 Chevy pickup bought from the Army Reserve - which had a 150-gallon water tank and a motorized pump in the bed. That helped us a lot.
I lived close to the station house & was usually able to get there first, when a call came. First to arrive meant I got to drive whichever piece of apparatus was required. On structural fires, I wanted to go in and attack the beast; on grass fires, I preferred to be engineer.
I suspect my back would let me know in no uncertain terms what it thinks if I tried to pick up a loaded Indian pump now. For better or for worse, I'm in a different line of work, these days.
Well, I need to go replace a tail light bulb in my wife's car. TTFN!
Oh! and the reference to smoke on the water? Anchorage is a port city, hence its name. : )
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