The West is on fire

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"Also forgot to mention British Columbia and Alaska -- it's the whole western part of North America up in flames !!"

Where is the smoke coming from? Map shows 74+ wildfires burning in western states

If you're wondering where all of the smoke in the air is coming from... the answer is probably not one specific fire. Currently there are more than 74 major wildfires burning in 8 western states including Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and California. Dozens of those fires are burning in our immediate region.

The map below is a map of US wildfire locations (active/recent) and other sources of information related to wildfires, including social media. Click on the areas of interest and zoom in to explore.

According to the map legend, all of the fire symbols are showing actively burning fires. The areas in purple are areas with an excessive heat warning.Area in gray show regions where there is an air quality alert in effect.

Due to all the smoke and ash in the air, KHQ has called for a Weather Authority Alert which will remain in place through Wednesday afternoon. Those with breathing problems, sensitivities or allergies should limit their time outdoors

Montana, the state forgotten by mainstream media

How come US media has forgotten Montana exists if I can pay attenton from the other side of the world?!

"We aren't supposed to go outside today. :( They say there's no relief in sight until first snow, and still not a peep on national news. I'm begging people to please tell others. I know there are many disasters going on all over, but this has grown since June and the state has been denied federal aid as well as other aid. Trust me, I am all for helping everybody. But my heart is breaking for the NW and especially MT where this started. I'm not asking for donations or anything, just please tell other people this is happening. We're suffocating up here"

I had to look this one up. Missoula is in Montana, the state the media forgot.

FlRES EVERYWHERE On WESTCOAST: 3000-Year-Old GIANT SEQUOIA GROVE BURNS

Wildfires force evacuations in California, Oregon, Washington

Los Angeles County welcomes a bit of rain but several fires still not contained

CBC,

4 September, 2017

Wildfires forced thousands to flee their homes across the U.S. West during a sweltering, smoke-shrouded holiday weekend of record heat.

The fires Sunday caused evacuations in Glacier National Park in Montana and many other parts of the West; compelled crews to rescue about 140 hikers who had spent the night in the woods after fire broke out along the popular Columbia River Gorge Trail in Oregon; and led firefighters to step up efforts to protect a 2,700-year-old grove of giant sequoia encroached by flames near Yosemite National Park in California.

A sudden gusty series of rainstorms allowed Los Angeles, however, to cancel evacuation orders for a wildfire that the mayor called the largest in the city's history and sent beach umbrellas and toy shovels bouncing down Southern California beaches late Sunday.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti had declared a local emergency earlier Sunday and Gov. Jerry Brown did the same on the state level for Los Angeles County after the wildfire destroyed three homes and threatened hillside neighbourhoods. More than a thousand firefighters battled flames that chewed through more than 23 square kilometres of brush-covered mountains.

The La Tuna Canyon in Burbank is among the wildfire-plagued areas of California. (Kyle Grillot/Reuters)

By evening, however, the day's record heat in Los Angeles had eased and a spate of brief storms even brought a bit of rain to the burning slopes, slowing the progress of the wildfire. Authorities were able to cancel the evacuation orders issued for three cities — Los Angeles, Burbank and Glendale — and allow all the 1,400 people who had fled to return to their homes.

Conditions slowing the blaze could change again "in a moment's notice, and the winds can accelerate very quickly," Los Angeles fire Capt. Ralph Terrazas warned, however. "There is a lot of fuel out there left to burn."

Rare Bay Area heatwave

Officials were keeping an eye on thunderstorms, which were bringing welcome bursts of rain, but also the risk of flash floods, mudslides and lightning. Beachgoers in Santa Barbara filmed one sudden storm there that sent palm trees flapping and toddlers chasing beach toys that the wind was blowing down the beach.

The high at Los Angeles International Airport reached 36 C Sunday, topping the mark of 33 C set in 1982. Records were also set in parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, where the temperature hit 38 C.

San Francisco residents, meanwhile, stifled under a third day of a rare heat wave in the coastal city, although highs in the San Francisco Bay Area fell Sunday from records in the high 30s, set the previous two days.

"I went to Home Depot, Walgreens, Office Depot, Target. They were sold out," downtown office worker Alganesh Ucbayonas said Sunday, detailing her unsuccessful search for an electric fan. "CVS," she remembered.

On Sunday, Ucbayonas sat at her desk in a building lobby squarely between two whirring fans, both scrounged from her office building's storage and trained straight at her face.

Members of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) battle a brushfire on the hillside in Burbank on Saturday. (H.W. Chiu/Associated Press)

Fires burning up and down the Sierra Nevada and further to the northwest cast an eerie yellow and grey haze over much of California. Much of the state was under alerts because of poor air quality.

California crews are also protecting homes from a fast-moving wildfire that forced evacuations in Riverside County.

In Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency across all counties as three major fires closed recreation areas and prompted evacuations.

Flames in Montana's Glacier National Park prompted officials to evacuate all residents, campers and tourists from one of the most popular areas of the park. 

The order Sunday affects the Lake McDonald area, the western side of the dizzying Going-to-the Sun Road and some of the most visited trails in the area. 

The Lake McDonald Lodge, built in 1913, closed last week because of heavy smoke in the area

Los Angeles Is Battling The Biggest Wildfire In Its History And The Photos Are Unreal

The blaze, which prompted California Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency Sunday, is one of 19 wildfires currently burning across the state.

Buzzfeed,

4 September, 2017

Los Angeles is in the grips of the largest brush fire in its history, prompting California Gov. Jerry Brown to issue a state of emergency on Sunday.

Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images

The La Tuna fire started Friday in Burbank, on the northern edge of Los Angeles, and has burned more than 7,000 acres. As of Sunday, the blaze continued to ravage parched and scraggy hillsides encircling hundreds of vulnerable homes.

Along with fires, unprecedented heat waves have smothered California this summer, shattering records in normally temperate northern cities like San Francisco, which hit 106 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday.

"This is the greatest statewide heat wave ever recorded in California,” according to Christopher Burt, a historian with Weather Underground, who noted that at least 15 Western US cities had their hottest summers on record this year.

As temperatures continue to hover around 100 degrees Fahrenheit near Los Angeles, photographers and residents captured striking, apocalyptic images and videos of the La Tuna fire, which was 30% contained as of Sunday evening.

David Mcnew / Getty Images

David Mcnew / Getty Images

A firefighter recoils from the heat of flames.

This dramatic time-lapse shows the scale of the flames, which have been fueled by erratic winds and record-breaking temperatures.

Kyle Grillot / Reuters

Kyle Grillot / Reuters

David Mcnew / Getty Images

Firefighters spray water on a burned rabbit running out from the flames.

Kyle Grillot / Reuters

Officials warn of poor air quality in eastern Colorado

9News,

4 September, 2017

KUSA - Much of eastern Colorado is under an air quality health advisory because of smoke pouring into the area from fires in the northwestern U.S. and Canada.

The warning issued Monday by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is for areas below 7,000 feet and includes Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Greeley and Boulder.

Health officials say the young, the old and people with heart and respiratory problems should remain indoors if the smoke becomes too thick.

“[Complications] can onset very quickly, within minutes of breathing air like we have today,” said Presbyterian St. Luke’s ER Doctor Dr. Krista Culp. “If you really have underlying lung disease that's significant, or if you're on oxygen, I recommend you stay inside.”

According to the National Institute of Health the smoke can lead to asthma attacks, infection, and inflammation of the lungs which can lead to hospitalization.

There are also reminders for healthy individuals. While complications will be more minor they can still experience watery and itchy eyes, headaches, and shortness of breath. The symptoms may increase with physical activity as the body is working harder.

The smoke is expected to start decreasing Monday afternoon, but health officials say people should follow the recommendations through at least Tuesday morning.

The view from space

Air in Spokane hazardous as wildfire smoke fills city

The wildfire smoke blanketing Spokane is expected to linger - and perhaps worsen - through Wednesday as health officials warned residents to seek refuge inside during the waning days of summer.

The air quality deteriorated to hazardous Monday afternoon and will likely lead to cancellations of outdoor school sports practices, recess and other activities, according to school officials.

Air quality alert in effect as smoke blows over Portland area

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge has blanketed Portland area skies and the area is under an air quality alert until Tuesday night.

"Easterly winds will develop later Monday and continue into Tuesday morning. These east winds will bring smoke westward from the wildfires in the Cascades and Columbia Gorge," the National Weather Service said in the alert.

While the air quality in Portland was still good to start Monday, that changed Monday afternoon when Portland's air quality was rated unhealthy for all. By Monday night though, Portland's air quality was upgraded to moderate.

B.C. wildfire Saturday: Warm weather threatens to intensify several major fires

Global News,

2 September, 2017

Crews are looking at a tough fight this Labour Day long weekend as extreme weather conditions threaten to intensify several major fires burning in B.C.

The province-wide state of emergency has been extended for a record fourth time through Sept. 15, as officials expect many temperature records to be broken this weekend including in parts of B.C.’s tinder-dry interior.

Highway 24 has already been closed from Highway 97 to Lone Butte as the Elephant Hill wildfire bears down on several communities there.

The Elephant Hill wildfire has already destroyed 57 structures, and those who lost their homes want to know what was done to protect them.

In Pressy Lake, where once were flames, now there are the charred remains of homes and vehicles.

Residents of the community, just over 60 kilometres southeast of 100 Mile House, want to know what, precisely, the province’s fire crews did to protect them.

The BC Wildfire Service told Global News that it is investigating what was done to fight the flames in Pressy Lake after the Elephant Hill fire swooped down and singed the community.

“Give us some answers, that’s all we want,” said Lorne Smith, who with his partner Cheryl Merriman, lost his home to the flames.

People in Sheridan Lake were also told to pack up following the expansion of the evacuation order along the Highway 24 corridor. Many residents are heading to an evacuation centre set up in 100 Mile House. A centre has also been set up once again in Williams Lake. Officials there are asking for volunteers to step forward and help with processing evacuees.

A pair of wildfires in the Kootenays are causing concern for both fire crews and locals. The St. Mary’s River fire is burning 14 kilometres northeast of Cranbrook in the St. Mary’s Reserve area, forcing cancellations of all flights from the nearby airport on Friday.

Similar concerns for the Lamb Creek wildfire south of town, which is now 220 hectares in size.

On Saturday, the Regional District of East Kootenay issued an evacuation order for properties on the south end of Moyie, B.C.

Chairman Al Richmond of the Cariboo Regional District says he wouldn’t be surprised if wildfires that have chewed through more than 10,600 square kilometres of woodland aren’t fully out until 2018.

Richmond said hot spots from many of the largest fires likely won’t be doused until the spring, mirroring a Fort McMurray wildfire that Alberta officials said was finally declared extinguished on Aug. 2.

READ MORE: Cranbrook-area wildfire reaches 250 hectares, evacuation order in place

“It goes down deep into the roots sometimes and then pops up again in the summer,” he said. “That’s not unusual, so I think the forest service felt we will be out dealing with these fires until well into October. And we will probably be back with many hot spots again come spring.”

Effective at noon on Saturday, the province has decided to close all Crown land in the Rocky Mountain natural resource district to public access because of the fire risk. There are exceptions, including for people travelling to or from a residence that is not under an evacuation order.

Long weekend heat

Meanwhile, a park operations supervisor with Metro Vancouver said crews will be extra vigilant during this long weekend as a lot of people are expected to hit the parks before kids go back to school next week.

“Everybody’s kind of having one last go of the summer and with the temperatures predicted to be where they are, we know that our parks are going to be really busy,” Tyler Langeloo said.

READ MORE: Vancouver breaks 50-year-old temperature record and hot weather will return for long weekend

“We’re just trying to get the message out there for people to continue to be vigilant and be smart and act appropriately when in the park.”

He said hot and dry conditions combined with campfires, briquette barbecues, or lit cigarettes don’t mix well so park authorities will be handing out tickets to anyone seen partaking in unsafe behaviour.

Manitoba wildfire forces thousands out