Smokey the Bear Says...

A month ago, a Vancouver Radio station referred to Prince George as the “Armpit of BC” while doing a contest for Elton John tickets, here in PG. Of course, the city took big offence to it. Tonight, as I look out a window to where I can hardly see anything due to the smoke in the air, I think I would prefer to be the Armpit than the Chimney. Pollution doesn’t burn the throat and eyes. Pollution has never made me feel immediately sick. I feel a bit like I always did after spending a week with Dad when he smoked everywhere and anywhere. I always came home sick from those trips. It’s only been an hour since I smelt the smoke blow into our city. I know it has been a little hazy and we have had those amazing red balls of fire sunsets, but I hadn’t really smelt the smoke this time – not like when Vanderhoof was on fire in June. Sam and I walked to Tim Hortons, and when we came out, all of a sudden it was smoky. Soon, the hills surrounding the city disappeared. It didn’t take long before it started to need effort to breath. My throat hurts. My eyes are stinging. All I want is a breath of polluted air, but all I breathe is smoke. Selfishly, I hoped that the smoke was like fog, and as I left the bowl, I hoped to find cleaner air. For those of you that know where I grew up, I came over the Big Hill on the highway, and couldn’t see the road. I could see the trees that surround the road, but I could not see Jensen Road itself. I am not used to seeing “fog” out that way – normally the smell of the pollution, and the fog, collects within the bowl area. It didn’t get any better the further out I got. Mom suggested that I find all the cats, because she figures it must be very close to be this smoky. I know there is a fire in Quesnel, and I know there is a fire at Pelican Lake (out Blackwater, close to Quesnel I think). It seems to be coming from the West of town, which is where I am staying for a month. I have no idea how I will play this game if there does become a problem – what will I do with the three cats? But, I just listened to the radio news for tonight, and they merely said that there is an air quality warning in PG, which means the buses run for free until the warning is lifted. They did not say where the newest/nearest fire is from.

I know most of you have probably lived through this adventure in the past. I however, have not. Forest fires have always been somebody else’s real problem. This is the first year that I remember one being in the North, and near Prince George. I do not remember ever having to breathe smoke in town. I have had friends on evacuation notice this year. Worse, is that it is the entire province this year. In my head, I kind of hope for an evacuation notice so that I can escape the smoke – but where can we go? I don’t want one because that makes it even more real, and we don’t need it real! I remember sitting on the other side of Okanagan Lake, watching the fire burn the mountain across the lake. I do not remember the smoke being like it is here today.

It is supposed to rain tonight. I hope that the rain suppresses the smoke, and that wind helps to disperse it. I pray for the entire province. I know that forest fires can help forests grow healthier. I know that with all the dead pine we have, this was inevitable. It is still a horrible thing for us, for our province. I pray that the province and all of its residents come out of this ok. And yes, Amber, I pray for the Yukon and you guys as well. As you said, it is more real when you are on 48 hour evacuation notice!

Please. Butt out properly. Do you remember the Barrier Fire? It was caused by a single man, who didn’t butt out properly. Think about that when you take your next smoke. http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/article/20100804/PRINCEGEORGE0101/308049986/hey-butt-out

If they evacuate you, please just go! You have a chance to grab your most precious things (which you don’t get for just a house fire). Grab those and go. Don’t stop to chop firewood! http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/article/20100802/PRINCEGEORGE0101/308029993/-1/PRINCEGEORGE0101/evacuee-felled-by-his-own-tree-falling

And Remember:
http://bcwildfire.ca/MediaRoom/Ads/2010_Numbers/handout.pdf

PS the Pictures are from tonight, looking at UNBC from the back of the parking lot, and one from a view point that normally show cases most of the City.