Nearly 1.5 Million Acres of Land Are Burning in the West: What You Need to Know Right Now
As states in the South grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and the potential damage from Hurricane Irma, the hot and overly dry West continues to grapple with a host of post-Labor Day wildfires like any other year. The flames displaced families, destroyed homes and property, closed highways and roads, and threatened iconic natural areas and national landmarks. Here’s what you need to know.
Statistics for 09/07/17:
There are 76 fires actively burning in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, according to the National Interagency Fire Center . Montana (21) and Oregon (18) top the list. Only one of these fires is currently localized.
Almost 1.5 million acres are on fire. More than half of this area is located in Montana and Oregon.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes from Portland, Oregon and Missoula, Montana to Los Angeles and many small towns in between.
Smoke from these fires not only drowns out fires, but also travels across North America into the Atlantic Ocean , simultaneously affecting air quality for millions of Americans. Fires have also poured ash into neighboring cities such as Seattle and Portland.
Most of the fires were caused by lightning strikes (and exceptional drought), although it has been confirmed that some, such as the Washington quarry fire and the Eagle Creek fire in Columbia Gorge, were caused by human activity.
National forests and scenic areas have taken (and continue to receive) a hit
In the Glacier National Park in Montana, a fire in Sprague engulfed the historic Sperry Chalet, built by the Great Northern Railroad and opened for service on August 31, 1914. “We are sad to inform you of the loss of Chalet Sperry,” writes The owner on the chalet website . “We are grateful for the bravery of the firefighters who worked to save this cherished building.”
Lake McDonald Lodge, 104, was also threatened, with firefighters installing 9,000 feet of sprinkler lines around the property to help create a fire break. As of the evening of September 6, according to InciWeb, the government’s incident information system, the Sprague Fire is 35% localized, and while air quality is poor, “strong localized smoke reduces fire behavior.”
A railroad fire near Yosemite National Park continues to threaten the 2,700-year-old giant sequoias of the Sierra National Forest. As of this morning, InciWeb reports that the fire is 43% localized: “The increased humidity has contributed to a slowdown in fire activity during the night, but weather trends towards the weekend will shift towards warmer and drier temperatures.”
Seventy miles of the popular Pacific Ridge Trail near Mount Rainier has been closed by the North Peak and Lesomill Ridge fires. As of this morning, InciWeb says the fire is only 8% localized, currently burning 43,000 acres, and moving north at a moderate pace, threatening the Crystal Mountain ski resort.
In the Columbia River Gorge in Washington DC and Oregon, the Eagle Creek fire on September 5 spread 15 miles, reaching downstream of Multnomah Falls. Willamette Week reported yesterday that “Multnomah Falls is still green and mostly unharmed” thanks to firefighters who fought for the safety of the area all Monday night, including the 100-year-old cabin.
Where there is fire, there is smoke
While thick smoke can help firefighters as it extinguishes flames, it is harmful to people living and breathing in the vicinity and even in more remote neighboring areas.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that people with heart or lung conditions, the elderly, and children are most at risk from bushfire smoke, and provides the following tips to reduce your risk:
Check the air quality where you live. EPA AirNow.gov will provide you with current conditions and daily predictions from “good” to “hazardous” based on your zip code, as well as guidance on whether and how much you should limit your outdoor exposure. …
Check with local visibility leaders. “Some communities have monitors that measure the amount of particles in the air,” the CDC said. “In the western United States, some states and communities have guidelines to help people determine if there are high levels of particulate matter in the air by how much they can see.”
Keep the indoor air as clean as possible if you are advised to stay inside. Keep windows and doors closed, turn on an air conditioner with a closed air intake, or seek shelter elsewhere if you don’t have an air conditioner.
Do not rely on respirators for protection. The CDC says the types of masks found in hardware stores are designed to trap large particles such as sawdust rather than small smoke particles.
The U.S. EPA offers more advice on everything from how to reduce vehicle smoke to choosing (and using) the right respirator in its 2016 Wildfire Smoke Guide .
When will the fire end?
InciWeb estimates the timing of the localization of all fires it monitors, and most major fires assume late September or early October. However, these dates may change, for better or worse, depending on the weather and fire extinguishing capabilities.