Canadian Wildfires 2023, Wishing Safety For All Of Our Canadian Members

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
Location
USA
As in the US, I've been hearing more and more about wildfires in Canada. Was listening to the news last night as they warned of a wildfire coming closer to Yellowknife, NWT and evacuations being started for those living there. I have spent time in many areas of Canada, including NWT, Alberta, Yukon, BC, etc. Beautiful country, sad to hear of the destruction due to drought conditions, extreme weather and resulting out of control wildfires.

Wishing safety for all of our Canadian friends here on Senior Forums and their families, in these trying times. Fire is frightening, destructive and deadly, my heart goes out to all affected. :(

https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-...-flames-creep-closer-to-yellowknife-1.6521088
 

Thank you, @SeaBreeze I’m sitting on tender hooks tonight. We were discussing which way we’d go if we get the order. Already so many areas that got word earlier and our regular tourists have filled the hotels. At this time of year, in the regular conditions, there are no vacancies. We’ve had extreme heat and no moisture since early spring. These next couple of days with strong winds and a cold front that could precipitate dry lightning are our most worrisome. Worst case, we’ll load up our to-go bags and basics and deal with it.

In the NWT, all of Yellowknife, the capital, is under evacuation order. Many smaller places were already evacuated.
 
Yes SeaBreeze, when I saw that on the news I immediately thought of our Canadian friends. I can't remember where everyone here is so don't know if anyone is in the path of the fire. I pray not ! How frightening and stressful to have to leave their homes and go God knows where for who knows how long!

@Jules I pray you won't have to evacuate, but if you need to, it's good to know you are prepared. All these fires is just mind blowing!
 
Jules said:
Thank you, @SeaBreeze I’m sitting on tender hooks tonight. We were discussing which way we’d go if we get the order. Already so many areas that got word earlier and our regular tourists have filled the hotels. At this time of year, in the regular conditions, there are no vacancies. We’ve had extreme heat and no moisture since early spring. These next couple of days with strong winds and a cold front that could precipitate dry lightning are our most worrisome. Worst case, we’ll load up our to-go bags and basics and deal with it.

In the NWT, all of Yellowknife, the capital, is under evacuation order. Many smaller places were already evacuated.
Click to expand...
I can't imagine how you and others there are worried right now, I wish you could get some rain minus the lightning. Wishing the best for you and your family. Sending warm thoughts and hugs. Hoping you stay safe and don't have to flee. Will be thinking of you. :( 💙
 
Jules said:
Thank you, @SeaBreeze I’m sitting on tender hooks tonight. We were discussing which way we’d go if we get the order. Already so many areas that got word earlier and our regular tourists have filled the hotels. At this time of year, in the regular conditions, there are no vacancies. We’ve had extreme heat and no moisture since early spring. These next couple of days with strong winds and a cold front that could precipitate dry lightning are our most worrisome. Worst case, we’ll load up our to-go bags and basics and deal with it.

In the NWT, all of Yellowknife, the capital, is under evacuation order. Many smaller places were already evacuated.
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry. I can't even stand the thought. Keep us posted here. Please.
 
As I was pulling out my suitcase, I logged back on because I realized I made this sound like a more dangerous situation than it is for me. It’s nerve wracking but only if things like the wind and idiots who are careless with fire make it that way. It is very much in the forefront of my mind. Anyone that lives in a fire zone knows what this is like on certain days.
 
I am with you SeaBreeze, we read about this kind of
disaster from afar and hope that no one is injured,
but losing a home must a terrible injury, I think.

Stay safe all in Canada and of course elsewhere too.

I have cousins that I grew up with, who are in Canada,
I also have other family that I never knew about over there.

Mike.
 
An update as of this AM. Yellowknife is being evacuated by both road ( it is a twenty hour drive to get to the big cities in southern Alberta ) or by Air Canada and West Jet flights. The Royal Canadian Air Force is flying people out ( one small carry on bag ) on C 130 transport planes. The road out to the south has a number of gasoline tankers parked at service stations, so fuel is available AT SET PRICES.

Being the Territorial capital city of the North West Territory, Yellowknife has the largest population concentration in the NWT. Most of the displaced residents are heading for Edmonton or Calgary, or to family who "live down south ".

One of the economic effects of our 2023 wild fire season will be the loss of millions of trees that would have been the source for board lumber and plywood sheets for construction projects, in both Canada and the USA. Canada supplies about 40 percent of the lumber used in the USA, each year. Next year the prices and the availability will be very much affected. Although Canada is a high tech industry country, we are also a natural resources nation, and the fires will hurt us, badly.

Three areas to invest in........Fire suppression foam, fire hose in 100 foot lengths, and far down the road, building more of the Canadair 415 aerial water bomber aircraft. That last one is going to take at least 2 years to get up and building. The 415 which is the only water bomber aircraft in the world that was designed to JUST FIGHT WILD FIRES. If you have not seen a 415 in action watch this link.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?pglt=41&q=video+of+a+canadair+415+water+bomber+in+action&cvid=ced7baa9818b4902937ebad40a88a38d&aqs=edge..69i57.18349j0j1&PC=U531&ru=/search?pglt=41&q=video+of+a+canadair+415+water+bomber+in+action&cvid=ced7baa9818b4902937ebad40a88a38d&aqs=edge..69i57.18349j0j1&FORM=ANAB01&PC=U531&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=7311836EC5BF6602BDF17311836EC5BF6602BDF1&FORM=WRVORC

JImB.
 
@jimintoronto, thanks for the video. Those planes are amazing.

I didn't even thing about the lack of wood that will be produced because of the fires. I need some plywood & other wood products to do some work at my house that was put on the back burner due to family matters. I was hoping to space the purchase over a period of time, but from what you said, that won't be an option for me now.
 
Lilac said:
@jimintoronto, thanks for the video. Those planes are amazing.

I didn't even thing about the lack of wood that will be produced because of the fires. I need some plywood & other wood products to do some work at my house that was put on the back burner due to family matters. I was hoping to space the purchase over a period of time, but from what you said, that won't be an option for me now.
Click to expand...
The imported Canadian wood that is in the US retail stores NOW will not increase in price. The prices NEXT year will go up considerably in your country. Depending on how things work out, Canada may reduce the amount of wood that we export to the USA, so that we have enough for our own construction needs. We also export a lot of premium quality hardwood to Japan for their housing projects, and to Europe for furniture production. JimB.
 
Please evacuate if necessary.

The Washington Post 2 days ago says

Wildfires continue to rage in Canada, burning twice as much land as any previous season, an area equivalent to Alabama or nine Connecticuts. The blazes have charred nearly 33 million acres (13.3 million hectares) across the country, with hundreds of large fires still burning.

This is frightening.
 
Jules said:
As I was pulling out my suitcase, I logged back on because I realized I made this sound like a more dangerous situation than it is for me. It’s nerve wracking but only if things like the wind and idiots who are careless with fire make it that way. It is very much in the forefront of my mind. Anyone that lives in a fire zone knows what this is like on certain days.
Click to expand...

It's still very scary. We were on pre evacuation once in a national forest campground. It was night and in the end we did not have to evacuate but we stayed up to be ready and of course everything we had was on wheels. Still, I wouldn't want to do it again.

Be safe!
 
hearlady said:
Sounds like western Canada. These are different fires? 🙏
Click to expand...
Yes the North West Territory is east of Yukon, north/east of the Province of British Columbia. 2023 has been a tough year for wild fires in Canada from coast to coast. AS of noon today ( August the 18th ) we have over 1200 fires burning in the western parts of the country, while in Ontario and Quebec the fires have slowed down a bit, but still active. Lighting strikes in northern Ontario last night numbered over 1700 strikes in a 12 hour period of time. Despite having one of the " rainiest Julys on record in Ontario" we still have new fires starting every day here. JImB.
 
I have just heard a man from Canada, he is something big in BC,
a Mayor or a Politician, he is asking tourists not to come because
they need the hotel rooms for local people who have, left their
homes ahead of the fires, some have slept in their cars because
the hotels are full of tourists.

I suppose that it makes sense, but that also removes some income
from people who rely on earnings from the Summer to help through
the Winter.

Pray for rain, everybody here, to help our Canadian friends. 🙏

Mike.
 
I wish safety to Canadians, too, and also to everyone in the USA who has been affected by the smoke. My little dog was coughing from going outside the smoke has been bad here. And I wish all of those everywhere with COPD and other chronic diseases much relief from the smoke. I'm praying for ALL affected. May God help them.
 
Mike said:
I have just heard a man from Canada, he is something big in BC,
a Mayor or a Politician, he is asking tourists not to come because
they need the hotel rooms for local people who have, left their
homes ahead of the fires, some have slept in their cars because
the hotels are full of tourists.

I suppose that it makes sense, but that also removes some income
from people who rely on earnings from the Summer to help through
the Winter.

Pray for rain, everybody here, to help our Canadian friends. 🙏

Mike.
Click to expand...
Rain will help, but to be realistic..............It would have to rain for the biblical "forty days and forty nights " to put out over one THOUSAND fires that are burning across Canada, right now. AND< with heavy rains come...........Lightning strikes, that create new fires over night.

Yes the Premier of British Columbia said yesterday ( August the 19th ) that it would be helpful if tourists went home now, and if others STAY AWAY . If you combine the number of people evacuated from Yellowknife ( about 25,000 ) and those who have left Kelowna ( about a further 22,000 ) you are looking at trying to house about 50,000 people. It is August, the over night temps are still reasonable at around 16 C, but that MAY change fast if the weather fronts from the Pacific turn colder. One of the unusual things that is being done is to bring VIA Rail sleeper cars to the Vancouver yards, to house people. Same thing for CNR and CPR bunk cars, that are normally used to house railway work crews. Smart thinking there.

JimB.
 
jimintoronto said:
One of the unusual things that is being done is to bring VIA Rail sleeper cars to the Vancouver yards, to house people. Same thing for CNR and CPR bunk cars, that are normally used to house railway work crews. Smart thinking there.
Click to expand...
Brilliant...hopefully still enough Rail Sleeper Cars left for the railway work crews
Praying for rain. Stay safe. 🙏
 
Last edited:
Lara said:
Brilliant...if there will still be enough Rail Sleeper Cars left for the railway work crews
Praying for rain🙏
Click to expand...
IN a NATIONAL emergency, you are worried about having enough bunk cars for the track crews ? Those crews are being sent to fight the fires. I don't think you understand the VERY serious nature of this situation.

Canada is mobilizing our military, and the reserve military, and the other Canadian Provinces are all sending fire crews and equipment to British Columbia, Yukon, and the North West Territory, as fast as we can. Canada has welcomed over 6,000 fire fighters from other countries, like South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Spain, South Korea, and the USA, plus water bomber planes from 14 other countries. JImB.
 
jimintoronto said:
IN a NATIONAL emergency, you are worried about having enough bunk cars for the track crews ? Those crews are being sent to fight the fires. I don't think you understand the VERY serious nature of this situation.

Canada is mobilizing our military, and the reserve military, and the other Canadian Provinces are all sending fire crews and equipment to British Columbia, Yukon, and the North West Territory, as fast as we can. Canada has welcomed over 6,000 fire fighters from other countries, like South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Spain, South Korea, and the USA, plus water bomber planes from 14 other countries. JImB.
Click to expand...
I think she understands and that was a nice apology, Lara.

After all the track crews, military and others fighting the fires will have to have rest, food, medical attention and other basics or they won't be able to keep fighting, so it seems only right to be concerned for them as well.

It must be very concerning to have all this going on in your country, Jim. The fires are horrible.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top