BC Wildfires

It's Smoky

Sun Aug 20th

Bonniebrook sunset through a smoky haze  - photo by Martin Davies a local acquaintance

A number of friends and family have asked if we have been affected by the wildfires.  The answer is not directly.  Saturday night's sunset was a smoky haze producing a red fiery setting sun.  This morning Vancouver Island is not visible as it is cloaked in smoke.

Our immediate neighbours moved here from Kelowna earlier in the year, having sold their house to be closer to their son and his family with whom they now share the house.  Their friends and family back in Kelowna are OK but they "are glad to be living in Gibsons".

A small forest fire started up behind us a few weeks ago but was quickly extinguished by local firefighters.

According to the BC WIldfire Service there are currently 386 active wildfires of 1865 so far this year.  The map which shows active wildfires is here.  It is changing so quickly, the stats may well have changed by the time time you read this.  The image below is a snapshot from the 'here' link.  A Provincial State of Emergency has been declared.

The Sunshine Coast, though part of mainland BC, is only reachable by ferry.  We are separated from the rest of BC by the Howe Sound, Sechelt Inlet and the Tetrahedron Provincial Park and mountains.  That is not to say we couldn't be affected by a wildfire, as demonstrated by the small one that occurred a few weeks back.  Any form of open fire is banned across BC; campers must use certified low risk portable cookers for food and drinks and we have a low incidence of lightning on the Coast, which is a major source of fires in the drier interior.  

Sunshine Coast relative to Vancouver and the rest of BC.

We are surrounded by trees, but not in immediate proximity to the houses in our part of the road.  We do though, remain vigilant. We are wondering if our booking for Seb sitting in 10 days time when Nick and Lizzie are due to head to Naramata in the Okanagan Valley (wine region), 30k south of Kelowna, will go ahead.  They do have a couple of plans 'Bs' in the other direction.  They have friends in Kelowna, who live on the edge of downtown, outside the evacuation zone.  The smoke has been so bad they have left.  This is the view from their front door.  It must be very frightening for those close to it.

So thank you to those of you who have enquired,  I'll keep you posted.  

In other news ........ all but one of Fred's college reunion guests have gone.  It was great to see them, though it was a hectic three days!  

The good news is that Ros has just had her Permanent Residency approved in New Zealand (I wrote Canada initially - must be wishful thinking), which means she is now free to travel to and from NZ and arrives with us this coming week!  Yeah.