Dear blog friends, one and all.
It was only a few days ago that I was shocked to see the catastrophic damage in Maui and I felt shock and concern for those thousands effected. How could it happen? How could it happen so quickly? The property damage there is beyond my comprehension, the tragic loss of history and the lasting, and most hurtful, the shock of lost lives.
Yet, it never dawned to me a few days ago it could happen here, and that our catastrophe was on our doorstep.
I never expected it to happen close to home, and so quickly. But, with a little background, on the weather this year, the writing was on the wall but we didn’t want to believe it or see it.
This has been an especially dry year in the Okanagan valley. Our spring weather is our wettest time of the year usually with rain occasionally, but consistently, until the end of June.
This year the rain didn’t arrive, and hasn’t arrived yet.
The sides of the valley that are normally green at the beginning of July have been the colour of straw and tinder dry for a few months.
The worsening conditions of drought, and months of plus 30 degrees Celsius heat has created a situation where in the provinces of BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan the risk factor of major spreading fires has risen consistently. This has lead to hundreds of fires in BC out of control and calls for help from everywhere.
Link to Globe and Mail article – The summer the sun turned red.
In Penticton and Kelowna, I think we have felt blessed, until a few days ago, that the Okanagan valley close to us has been spared despite news of over three hundred fires elsewhere in our beautiful province of B.C.
But a few days ago, the fire situation about 60 kilometres north of us, in West Kelowna, has changed and turned into a raging, out of control catastrophe.
At this time the evacuation of people continues to increase exponentially and affects more than 35,000 people, thousands of homes. The fire has spread to both sides of the valley, with embers carried by high heat over the 2.5 kilometre wide lake in Kelowna.
Yesterday the different fires surrounded Penticton in three separate directions and the normally blue skies have now been dull brown for days and you can taste the smoke when you open your doors and windows.
I think we all feel on edge, and tense. I sure do.
Everyone in the valley is touched by this event. Loss of life has not been reported, thankfully, and we hope that situation remains in the days ahead.
Sadly, many people don’t know the status of their homes, (are they still standing?) or their work locations. But whether the fires incinerate subdivisions or not, this fire has been a catastrophe that a week ago we didn’t see coming.
I think sustained rain is the cure we are praying for, along with continued strength, and safety for the firefighters, and for the crews from everywhere that have come to help in these dire circumstances.
We pray, of course, that homes will be spared also and as few as possible destroyed because we know many are already gone and the fire and smoke is continuing.
Thank you for reading and your kind thoughts and prayers for the thousands and thousands effected by the West Kelowna, and many other related fires in the Canadian Okanagan Valley.
Take care please – ♥♥ David
Life and Random Thinking 
Good to hear you are safe David. It is so tragic what seems to be happening all over the world. Hope that rain comes to assist with dousing the fires💕
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Thank you for your thoughts Lynn. 50% chance of rain on Tuesday next week, I hope it pans out and results in a downpour that isn’t too brief. – Hugs, David
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I can understand your worry. I have friends living in Penticton who have relatives and other friends in Kelowna. The situation’s not great and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that no one will be killed. I feel terrible for Penticton and all Okanagan areas who rely on touris dollars for their livelihoods. I think summer tourism just ended. Hoping for better things in the fall. Take care.
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Thank you Debra. It’s a scary situation for many, and now tourism travel is actually been officially prohibited by the province. Not great timing for Ironman next week but the situation justifies it. Thank you for your understanding and for keeping us all in your thoughts. I wasn’t sure if this was a blog post that readers would read but so many of my blog followers are empathetic and I felt it was correct to share. – David
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It is correct to share, for sure. These things are happening all over the world. They are shared experiences and teaching moments for all of us. I’ve just learned that the Ironman competition will be cancelled, which is sad, but necessary, under the circumstances. Evacuees and emergency responders need the hotel space and I’m not sure it’s safe for participants. When we were there several years ago, part of the competition took them close to Keremeos, which is having it’s own fire challenges.
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Yes, I heard that about Ironman. I have only agreement in town that it was the right thing to do. Still the loss of the race and the excitement and triumph it brings to town is another disappointment brought by the fires. – David
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I’ve been thinking about you, David, ever since this news of the frightening wildfires in the Okanagan broke, and have been trying to figure out how to send you a message of concern. These wildfires are absolutely devastating. Please stay safe. 🙏💕
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Thank you, I must have felt that message of concern somehow Jane. My nephew’s house is still standing but his video cameras at the back of his house show just how close the fires were, and they were close, especially since embers are travelling kilometres in the wind. Hugs – David
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Horrific and terrible. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
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Thank you Cindy for your understanding. Fire and candling trees up close are not what we want to see and we need the rain. I appreciate you reading my blog and commenting. – David
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David, I appreciate your sharing this, and I am sorry to hear of all the fires and threats of fires. I will add this to my prayers for safety for all involved in your beautiful area. It is hard to imagine that kind of devastation. Please update us on your blog as is appropriate. All the attention is understandably on Maui right now, but clearly there are other areas in need also. Stay safe and well!
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Thank you Linda sincerely. Devastation is correct. Today I can’t see very far, not even the walls of the valley around which are close. It’s just smoke everywhere and it’s best to stay indoors. Sad and surreal. – thank you for understanding. – David
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Oh my. This is terrible news. I pray you will be safe and the rains come soon.
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There is a possibility of rain Tuesday but realistically it probably won’t. Thank you for praying for rain, we really do need it and it’s probably the best and only really practical solution. – David
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Thinking of you
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Thanks LA, the days of heavy smoke remind me of fog and I find myself thinking of the people who are working hard to fight the fires.
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Dave if you and yours need someplace to stay we have a spare bedroom with a queen size Bed. Just let us know.
Bob
Sent from Mail for Windows
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Thanks Bob, that’s kind and I appreciate your offer. I hope you are doing very well. – David
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Doing Better, The large hole in my gut is healed over so only the smaller one is left.
Sent from Mail for Windows
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Progress! The wound clinic here in Penticton has helped me immensely over the years.
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I’m so sorry to hear, David. Praying for lives and homes to be spared and for the thousands effected. 🙏🏻
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Hi Crystal, so nice to hear from you. It’s weird to be sweeping ash off my car every day, and the coppery look of the smoke outside. The sun is orange. Today some progress was made due to a change in the winds and so the firefighters were able to try to remove some fuel from the fire to try to slow it down. Hugs and be safe♥ – David
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Hugs and prayers for more progress and rain!
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So sad . I pray that it will rain soon !
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Thank you so much – your prayers are sincerely appreciated and so your reading and commenting. – David
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Sorry I am so late in responding! It seems I can’t reply or make a comment from my tablet and yesterday was a crazy day. Anyway, my heart goes out to you. I will say a prayer for everyone out west. Several weeks ago I was on my balcony and the sky was yellow and I could smell smoke. I thought it was somebody burning something close by. It wasn’t. I am far enough south of the fires in Ontario that I am in no danger but when the wind shifts in the right direction . . .
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You aren’t late in responding, I am grateful to hear from you. Sending you wishes for clear air and good health. – David
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Wow wow wow. Sending thoughts and prayers, David!
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Thanks Wynne, hugs, – David
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It was really awful and homes were lost, but at least no one was hurt. The firefighters were magnificent.
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