Fire season is upon us

[NOCO Jim]

Here in northern NY, a 1/2 hr south of the Canadian border, it seems no better today.  I thought the decent rain we got might clear the air some but it has not.  I will be wearing a respirator in the shop all day.

[WhitePineJunky]

Hopefully things will open up soon, I can't imagine how long the wait must feel.

They setup ONE phone line at the municipality for thousands to call, to set up a "appointment", tried over and over for last half hour, nothing, as expected. I'm beyond angry right now. Have had what I'd figure is a migraine from the stress of not knowing for the last 2 days now, never get migraines. Taking a toll on me that's for sure 

[Old Greenhorn]

It's gotta be frustrating, sorry. We are roughly 500 miles south and lots of folks around here are complaining of headaches. I have had a small dull one for about a day now. The reduced respiratory efficiency can cause these headaches. Smoke was really bad here before 4 and 5pm yesterday. I checked that map in more detail this morning and it looks like we are getting another bad wave in the late afternoon today also.

 Try to be patient and not risk your own safety. Start checking with others you know, maybe they have found a way into 'the system' that works or perhaps visit their checkpoint in person to see what can be done?
 Best of luck, still thinking about you and hoping for the best.

[Stephen1]

All I can say is patience, patience, patience. I know how hard it must be to wait to do something. 
It looks like fog rolling in here from the fire in Algonquin Park. I wanted to run the sawmill today and Cathy figures I should hold off until the air clears up if ever. They are predicting a summer of bad air from the fires. I have been noticing the amount of wind from the north which is quite strange here. We normally only get the north wind as a front of good weather to come and usually only for the day and then the wind come around to the west. We have had north wind for days now, mostly north for the last 2 weeks. Bringing down all the smoke from the fires north of us. 

[SwampDonkey]

Been north winds here for weeks, this week more NE, so not bringing in smoke. Other than during the rains here, dry days have had low humidity all spring, 30-40%.

[firefighter ontheside]

My fingers are crossed White Piny that you get to find out soon and that the findings are good.  Do your best to eat and drink as you should.  My migraines are triggered by dehydration and not eating enough in a day.

[WhitePineJunky]

Been a roller coaster for sure, first couple days post evac I wasn't doing too good, late last week optimism started picking up and thinking no matter what I will rebuild and get through it, then last couple days been going down heavy in morale. I'm not sure if Im coming down with a flu or it's just the stress but the migraine, burning eye balls, and cold chills in a 73F room are strange, muscle aches. 
I got through after awhile of calling, all they are doing is checking your property themselves and calling me back tomorrow on a status update. 
I've spoken to a vol firefighter they said the fire is out and safety is of no concern regarding the fire. It's just bureaucracy now. 
They wanna have people notified on their wells and contamination, not many downed power lines. 

[Dan_Shade]

Sorry to hear about your stresses WhitePineJunky,

We had smoke down here in Southern Maryland today. 

[Chuck White]

The sky has been relatively clear here all morning except for a few fluffy clouds drifting around.

Now it's clouding up for the forecasted rain this afternoon, which we can definitely use.

Hope progress is being made in controlling the fires up there in Quebec.

[RPF2509]

I feel for everyone out there in the smoke.  We've endured 4 straight months of smoke here in California at times and it really begins to get to you.  Not to mention the wait for news can really fry your nerves.  So far we've been blessed with a record snowy winter and a cool wet spring.  I am thankful for every day of clean air and low fire danger.  

[Old Greenhorn]

Any Updates @WhitePineJunky ? I have been thinking about you pretty steady and wondering how you are making out.

[Andries]

Smoke by the Numbers:
- There's about 110 wildfires in Quebec, Canada at the moment.
- Most of the fires are in the far North, beyond road access.
- Quebec estimates at least 1200 firefighters are needed to control fires.
- Firefighters in from France: 110 - merci beaucoup!
- Firefighters in from USA: 600 - thank you! 
- Wildfire-Firefighter jobs cut in Ontario over the last three years in Ontario: 65% (some politicians need to be sent to the front lines of the firefighting)
- 692,000 acres in Quebec alone, have gone up in smoke.
- Smoke from BC fires is carried by winds at over 20,000 ft up, by the jet stream to the Canadian Maritimes and New England USA. 
This is a 'continental' event. 
- El Niño is a Pacific ocean current and weather event, that has a three year cycle. It's now happened three years in a row. 
- pretty sunsets aren't always a cool thing.
 
This too will pass, best wishes to all adversely effected by this year's fire season. 

[WhitePineJunky]

Any Updates @WhitePineJunky ? I have been thinking about you pretty steady and wondering how you are making out.

I appreciate it. It ain’t good, worse than I ever could of imagined. House is still there, but everything else is gone, all my outbuildings and barns with lots and lots of valuables,  gone. The only other thing that survived was the bandsaw mill somehow even though the fire wrapped right around it and melted the gas jug to it. All the trees are dead, the whole 160 acres, scorched black even the large pines are dead, it feels like a wasteland, and I’m definitely hurting today and will be for awhile. I plan to cut down and mill some and also replant over the next 5-10 years. Really bad day today

[WhitePineJunky]

 

 

Being on a forum like this I'm sure there are others that have trees they almost see as their children. I really love trees and nature so it really hurts they're all gone, the whole reason I lived up here was for the trees and especially big oaks and pines. All the standing ones are orange needles and falling off. Il half to clear cut and start over 

[Andries]

Heartfelt condolences on this huge loss, WhitePine.
Though it may not feel like it at this point in time, forestry regeneration and new growth happens quite quickly, with a nurturing hand such as yours. 

[customsawyer]

I hate that for you Whitepine. Remember that with the new growth there will be lots of new wildlife that you will get to enjoy. Take your time and make this property your legacy. Best wishes.

[Old Greenhorn]

Ah man, I am SO sorry to read this. I know it feels like the end of the world right now, and in some ways, it is, but you do have the house, and that is a big thing right there. Loosing the other stuff is a terrible blow. Trees do grow back and I am sure you will have a bunch of work to do on that mill. But from the pictures, it looks like even though those trees are all brown and toasted and charred, there is still a possibility they will come back. Give it a little time you may see some surprises. I don't know much about fire damaged trees, but I have milled wood from trees that suffered big fires earlier in the lives and survived, so I am hoping to have some too. The main thing is that you survived and are able to continue to do your work. God Speed to you my friend. You will survive this, no doubt.

[Hilltop366]

Well good news about the house and mill not so good about the rest.

Sounds like many lost their house, last I heard was 150 structures destroyed, 60 were houses and cottages.

[barbender]

WhitePine, I am really, really sorry. The only thing that can help me relate is a really powerful windstorm that just flattened my neighborhood back in 2012. No loss of life or even property really, mainly timber damage. But it really did just flatten huge areas around here, in a matter of minutes people's forested properties just looked like someone smashed everything to the ground with a big hand. I was visiting a neighbor, and he said, "I didn't lose anything but trees, no one got hurt, but this was almost...traumatic?". I told him I felt exactly the same, just seeing all of the forest that we'd hunted and lived in our whole lives flattened in the blink of an eye was really hard to comprehend. 

 With all of that said, I again just say I am really sorry for everything that happened up there, and the loss you suffered. It will take a long time to come to terms with it, I'm sure.

[customsawyer]

I also wouldn't rush in there with a chainsaw and just start cutting things down. Lots of trees can withstand a lot more heat than we think. I've done enough controlled burns where the wind changes direction and things get a lot hotter than they should. Yet 98% of the time the trees still made it. Some of it has to do with the temp at the roots or the terminal bud and for how long. If that fire went through there tall and fast it might have just singed things and they will start getting green again after some rain and time.

[Stephen1]

I am heartbroken for you WPJ. Those pine will regenerate ,the understory will pop with green this summer after some more rain. 
Worry about your building's and what you can salvage from them.
The time for your trees will be next winter or even the winter after next summer once you see what has survived and what you need saw to rebuild. 
All the best.

[thecfarm]

That's a hard picture to look at.    :(
I own land and trees too. I know how you feel.

[firefighter ontheside]

I'm so sorry.  I know the pain of losing the trees.  I built my house where I did because of the yellow pines we have.  2 years after we moved in a wind event/tornado took down almost all of the big trees.  Luckily for us, there were a lot of small trees that have grown a lot in the last 20 years.  It's pretty again, but not like it used to be.  You will have a lot of work to do, but I know you can make it look pretty again.  It will be different but pretty.  

[SwampDonkey]

I know how you feel about your woodlot. That devastation is major kick in the guts. Hopefully you have cost share programs down there to help with reestablishment. Best of luck and better days ahead.

[barbender]

Oak and most pine are fire adapted species, fwiw. Hopefully a number of them will pull through and you'll have the cleanest looking understory around.