It’s hot and dry. The west coast is burning. California is getting most of the news, but Oregon and Washington are in a bad way also. Here, the light is orange, the sky smoke-filled, evacuations ordered in the various levels, 1 (prepare), 2 (get ready), and 3 (leave immediately). We’re not at evacuation level 1 yet, but across the county line a street away they are.
This top picture was taken Tuesday afternoon about 3:00 p.m. That’s smoke, not clouds!
This next one was taken yesterday afternoon about the same time. Again, smoke!
This is frightening. We’re really stressed, and I can’t seem to get any reading or anything else done. We’re just glued to the news reports.
Tip the Wink 
Good luck. My fingers are crossed for all of you people.
You, too, Bob, Washington has it’s share.
My goodness. That second picture is something I would associate with a scene from Mars in a sci-fi movie.
Yes, all we need is red sand stretching to the horizon.
Someone tweeted a video of San Francisco this week with the theme music from the BLADE RUNNER sequel as soundtrack.
Sorry for all this literal atmospheric stress added to everything else.
I hope you stay safe!
Thanks, Margot. This is very stressful.
I am very sorry to hear you are that close to Level 1. I can understand why you would be distressed. The only time we have evacuated (and only for one night) was for the Painted Cave fire in 1990. But we have had other fires get close enough to worry, and I know how that feels. I pray that the fire does not get closer to you.
We haven’t been watching the news, although some of the newsletters I get regarding Covid-19 have links to articles online. And of course, we see a lot of it in the L.A. Times. And we follow the Cal Fire maps.
We are having what the weather reports call “areas of smoke and haze”. It has a yellowish cast but not as dramatic as your skies. It has been this way for days and we haven’t seen the sun at all. The smoke in the air bothers my eyes, nose and throat but my husband and son are not affected.
We have fires above us (way above) and some to the east but no fires anywhere near.
I know there ave been fires in the SB area in the past. Parents of a friend lost their house in the early 90s, I believe it was. Glad you’re clear of it so far.
Good luck to you. I hope it doesn’t reach you. Lucily for me forest fires in Michigan are rare.
Do you have family or friends in a safe area you can go to? Or is the lack of that adding to the stress levels?
Yow! Scary. I saw the pictures of the orange sky in San Francisco yesterday. This is very bad,
Be careful if you do have to go out.
We have to go out tomorrow, but not far or for long. hey say this smoke will be with us for at least until Tuesday, with inversion layer pushing it down. Uck, it’s really nasty.
Take care, my friend, and be careful. There’s nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution. Thinking of you, Barbara, Dexter, and Pongo.
By the way, air quality in the entire Willamette Valley, Portland is at the north end, is officially unhealthy to dangerous. I lived in southern California for most of my life, and this is the worst air I’ve ever seen.
One of the many things making me worried. So many friends in that area. Be safe, dear friend.
we’re 1 block from the Evac Stage 1 zone. I’m beginning to fear we’ll lose everything. Barbara says I’m over-stressing. I’m stressed, that’s certain. Arrrrgh!
You probably are over-stressing, but … you can’t help being stressed when it gets that close. And even having to think about gathering things to evacuate is hard. I hope things improve there soon.
This was supposed to be a big, happy day! We signed the final papers on a re-fi. Yay! No, sign, sign, rush home turn on the news, bite nails……
Hi Richard
I just wanted to wish you well. We had skies like this once at the cabin, but the fire was hundreds of miles away. Still the otherworldly feel was quite unsettling. Knowing you are so close to the evacuation area must be really frightening and I can understand why you are so stressed. All the best.
Guy
Thanks, Guy, that’s kind of you.
please stay safe. You and Barbara need to be safe, your stuff, it is just stuff, it can be replaced. but you and Barbara can’t be replaced.
if you are able to evacuate, please get somewhere safer! that second picture is terrifying!
Not a lot of safer places, there are fires EVERYWHERE, it seems. Good news is the wind is shifting, blowing the fires back on themselves. Still, we can see less than a quarter mile, when we usually can see 30 from our house. The smoke is awful. I have started going through bookcases pulling forward special books. There will be some artworks too. Mostly, just hoping we don’t have to leave.
SMOKE! It’s a grey wall outside our windows today.
Please take care.