Scorched British Columbia

from the Vancouver Sun:



Thousands flee as wildfires ravage B.C.
Evacuation orders force at least 4,850 from their homes

By Rebecca TeBrake, Vancouver Sun
August 3, 2009


VANCOUVER — More than 100 new forest fires are starting each day in B.C.’s forests, and the province has already burned through double its average firefighting budget, officials say.

Thousands of homes have been evacuated as the fires threaten communities throughout southern British Columbia and an area at least 32 times the size of Stanley Park.

Hot, dry weather mixed with lightning storms has pushed the fire risk up to critical levels in 85 per cent of the province, fire information officer Radha Fisher said on Monday.

“The conditions are prime for fires,” Fisher said.

“We have seen big fire seasons in the past and we are seeing one now.”

In an average fire season, which runs from April to October, there are 1,200 fires by the first week of August, according to statistics from the past seven years. This year, there have already been 2,200 fires. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Thousands+flee+wildfires+ravage/1855167/story.html

(Who the hell unrecommended this? Seriously, WTF?)

I spent 5 weeks in Vancouver back in '96 and went back to visit for a week in '98. A beautiful city surrounded by spectacular nature. I spent the weekends exploring the city and places like Grouse Mountain and Whistler. It saddens me to hear about these fires.

FWIW I think some people hit unrec accidentally, thinking they are rec'ing. It's been suggested that unrec be move to the far right of the form.

for both rec and unrec.

My wifi connection blows, it's as bad as dialup sometimes so I appreciate any reduced clickage. It would be better to just keep rec as is and move unrec to the far right of the form, IMO.

not because they think what's happening is a good thing.

:shrug:

I was complaining about someone unrecommending it. Why would they unrec it? It's not a controversial post in any way.

I recommended it myself.

:silly:

:hi:

:hi:

Here's a link showing how many fires are burning there right now:

http://webmaps.gov.bc.ca/imf5/imf.jsp?site=pub_fireinfo

Other fire reporting sites showing nada for southern Canada. Since I am choking on smoke in Montana, I knew something was going on.

I just drove over the Coq a week ago...lots of pine beetle damage there.

Does that make fires more likely?

And Kash for Klunkers is a failure.

These are today's talking points.

Stand by for further re-education instruktions.

:rofl: or :hide:

But, I add, all the best for the good folks of B.C.

Wildfires are a serious problem throughout western North America.