COTHers in OR, WA and ID - fires?

[Arbitrary]

Are there any COTHers close to any of the multiple wildfires in Washington Oregon and Idaho?

If so, how are you doing? What have you been doing re: your horses and other livestock? If you’ve evacuated, were you able to get your beasts out? If you’re still in the area, how are you coping with the smoke?

I just read that the fires in WA have so far burned nearly 1150 square miles!: the size of Rhode Island. While I’m aware of the people-helping groups (Red Cross), I don’t know if there are any groups assisting displaced livestock/horses.

If anyone has suggestions, please share.

We had a taste of the smoke last weekend due to shifting winds and it was truly awful. Nothing at all compared to what others are going through. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Z4gIQ_y7s

My sympathies for anyone who has to live with smoke and worry every day. Hoping for rain

[TresGauche]

It looks and feels like LA, thick nasty smoggy air. One of my dogs has been wheezing a bit. It gets better and worse depending on the winds, this month WA seemed worse than TBird (which I thought was bad in late June/early July).

[JoZ]

I’m in the western part of WA and the smoke comes and goes. Though one of my horses has a cough that I think might be related. That and all the dust from such a dry, hot summer. I’m sure I will complain about the rain at some point in the future – this is Washington after all – but I will happily put up with quite a few rainy days at the end of this stretch.

I’m very proud of local communities that are renting/arranging for semis that sit at feed stores or churches or other parking lots for people to fill. My neighborhood has one going over to eastern WA tomorrow with all sorts of supplies for firefighters, residents and animals.

[MustangSavvy]

We are doing well (in Western WA state), one of the fires is a bit close for comfort. But even then it is still a good 30 to 40 minutes away. The smoke comes and goes. This all to normal for me though, we just moved from Colorado a year ago. It feels like a CO summer instead of a WA summer.

I am really excited for rain tomorrow, we desperately need it.

[IdahoRider]

I am in south-western Idaho and the Soda fire was about 35-40 miles from us. We were completely socked in by smoke, and you could see the glow from the fire itself at night. Very strange.

We are still very smokey from the fires in the south-central mountains of Idaho and have had red level air quality days for the last couple of weeks. We had a couple of purple days, too, which I didn’t even know was possible.

We were in Spokane last weekend and dealt with smoke there, too. It seems like the entire northwest is on fire: Pacific Northwest, Inland Northwest. It is all burning.
Sheilah

[JGHIRETIRE]

[QUOTE=IdahoRider;8291809]
I am in south-western Idaho and the Soda fire was about 35-40 miles from us. We were completely socked in by smoke, and you could see the glow from the fire itself at night. Very strange.

We are still very smokey from the fires in the south-central mountains of Idaho and have had red level air quality days for the last couple of weeks. We had a couple of purple days, too, which I didn’t even know was possible.

We were in Spokane last weekend and dealt with smoke there, too. It seems like the entire northwest is on fire: Pacific Northwest, Inland Northwest. It is all burning.
Sheilah[/QUOTE]

It does feel like that. We have had a few idiots that run along I-5 and deliberately set fires. Like we don’t have enough??

[IdahoRider]

@JGHIRETIRE;8291855

It does feel like that. We have had a few idiots that run along I-5 and deliberately set fires. Like we don’t have enough??

Boggles the mind.
Sheilah

[TheJenners]

Rain this weekend, hallelujah.

[Pocket_Pony]

I’m in Central Oregon and the closest fire is to the east of us. While it doesn’t generally smell smokey, the smokey haze in the sky has been really bad. We can’t even see the mountains that aren’t that far away, and the sun is bright red (when we can see it). It is starting to be clear today and I think it will rain today and/or tomorrow.

The people who are closer to or in the fires are in my thoughts and prayers. Such devastation.:no:

[Heinz_57]

Doing the rain dance every day where I’m at here in the valley. There was a ugly forest fire over in the Willamina area not too long ago, I haven’t kept up on it but we’re not near enough to be in danger. SO Heinz’ National Guard unit was asked for volunteers to go help with the fires in the east, and I know the Gov has mobilized a couple hundred guys so far. If it gets worse, his unit will be mobilized as well. We went for a hike last weekend just as the smoke blew in over the mountains; it was the worst haze I’ve ever seen.

I saw a video on FB yesterday of a ‘Firenado’ over by the OR/ID border. Now THAT is scary.

[AmarachAcres]

I’m in the Van/Port area. The smoke hit us for a few days but right now we are far safer than many others.

Glad to hear that most people are coming together and helping one another.

[Gestalt]

I’m in NE Oregon. It has been terrible for at least a month. The place I board at took in about 7 horses and I think some goats. The bo is a very kind and generous woman.

My horse has been handling the smoke better than me (thank goodness!). I’ve been busy with work so haven’t ridden him and I actually don’t think I would even if I had the time. It’s just nasty with the heat, dry, dust chaff from wheat harvest, and the smoke. Usually I have great views of the Blues wherever I am, but I haven’t seen the mountains since the Walla Walla fire started. Hope everybody else is doing okay. I think there is another cother near Boardman. Keeping my fingers crossed that all our critters get through this.

[RedmondDressage]

I’m in western WA so we’re fine, other than some pretty smoky days. My old neighbor moved up northeast a few years ago though. The Okanagan fire was on their property last weekend, along with 40 firefighters trying to save their structures. Fortunately she had evacuated her horses before the fire reached them and the firefighters were able to save their house and barn.

Now I have found out that the Wolverine fire is about 15 - 20 miles north of my parents’ home. Unfortunately it’s up in very difficult mountainous terrain so crews really can’t do anything until it comes down the mountain and toward town and winds were blowing that direction last update I got. They packed up photo albums and other important items and my dad brought them over to my house yesterday. We’re supposed to have rain this weekend. Their area is in a rain shadow right on the other side of the mountains but I’m hopeful they will get at least some moisture and/or winds will shift away from them. Last year the wildfires reached the top of the ridge over their house, not happy that we’re having a repeat this year. They are prepared though - the cars are packed and they just have the two dogs so they should be able to get out quickly if the need to evacuate comes.

[JGHIRETIRE]

[QUOTE=RedmondDressage;8292772]
I’m in western WA so we’re fine, other than some pretty smoky days. My old neighbor moved up northeast a few years ago though. The Okanagan fire was on their property last weekend, along with 40 firefighters trying to save their structures. Fortunately she had evacuated her horses before the fire reached them and the firefighters were able to save their house and barn.

Now I have found out that the Wolverine fire is about 15 - 20 miles north of my parents’ home. Unfortunately it’s up in very difficult mountainous terrain so crews really can’t do anything until it comes down the mountain and toward town and winds were blowing that direction last update I got. They packed up photo albums and other important items and my dad brought them over to my house yesterday. We’re supposed to have rain this weekend. Their area is in a rain shadow right on the other side of the mountains but I’m hopeful they will get at least some moisture and/or winds will shift away from them. Last year the wildfires reached the top of the ridge over their house, not happy that we’re having a repeat this year. They are prepared though - the cars are packed and they just have the two dogs so they should be able to get out quickly if the need to evacuate comes.[/QUOTE]

Really hoping for rain today. My sister lives in Wenatchee and said she was seeing a raindrop or 5. Hope it keeps raining!!

[RedmondDressage]

[QUOTE=JGHIRETIRE;8292815]
Really hoping for rain today. My sister lives in Wenatchee and said she was seeing a raindrop or 5. Hope it keeps raining!![/QUOTE]

Me too. They’re predicting high winds so if there’s no rain it’s going to get much worse.

[JGHIRETIRE]

[QUOTE=RedmondDressage;8292860]
Me too. They’re predicting high winds so if there’s no rain it’s going to get much worse.[/QUOTE]

I know - it’s frightening.

[Calvincrowe]

Mr. CC’s family live smack in the middle of the Okanogan Complex fire(s). One uncle evacuated all his stock–horses and cattle and lived for a time in the Home Depot parking lot in Tonasket, the other had the fire burn up to the back of the barn on his ranch. Mom lives in Omak proper, and while the smoke is horrible, she’s not in danger. There have been lots of animals evacuated, but just as many cattle and horses were simply let loose to take care of themselves. Pictures have shown firefighters giving them water and calling in help as they are found. A friend’s daughter is working the fire in John Day, Oregon and posted a photo of her packing a month old calf out of danger! I know the Soda Fire on the Idaho/Oregon border killed roughly 40 wild horses, and several ranchers lost upwards of 50% of their cattle herds to it. Tragic. Of course, the loss of homes, barns and hay stacks is awful. There have been a couple of caravans of hay heading into all those areas, as they’ve lost not only the winter’s hay, but all their grazing lands, too. Another tough year.

We are all doing the rain dance, as there have been fires on the west side of WA/OR, but none like those on the east side. Mostly stupid people doing stupid stuff–shooting guns at propane bottles or leaving a fire burning, driving a truck through tall, dry grass. Ugh.

[Murphy_s_Mom]

I’m in South Central Washington so not in any danger of the current fires. I live next to a wildlife area and it has had a lot of restrictions since late June to reduce man caused fires (there was a 10,000 acre one last year caused by a target shooter) and luckily we don’t get much lightning in this area. I can’t even describe how dry it is. All it takes is a spark. People are being very, very cautious. Smoke wise…it’s horrible. Smells like being next to a campfire that is blowing in your face. At times there is ash falling from the sky and that is just freaky. I feel bad for complaining though because I know it is so much worse up north.

I used to live in Okanogan County and worked for the Forest Service out of the Tonasket district. I hate seeing “my” land going up in flames. A friend’s niece was evacuated and her house burned down just hours later.

[BasqueMom]

Jingles for every one in the Pacific NW. Used to live in Colorado and know how devastating the fires can be. Some of these seem to be super sized.

Here in this area of Texas we got lots of grass fires. After an extremely wet spring and grass taller than people, we have now gone 45 or so days with no rain
to speak of. A few grass fires but sure more to come. Texas was very dry back
in 2011 and some horrific fires (Austin area for one) and something like 4,000,000 acres burned due to 31,000 fires.

In looking that figure up, came across the Great Fire of 1910 in the Pacific NW,
(3,000,000 acres) and killed 87 people, mostly firefighters.

[Mtn_trails]

I was up north riding out of Harry Osborne trailhead and the smoke from the newhalem fire was making things a little hazy. Then there was a rumor that darrington was on fire. Luckily that turned out to be false. Scarey.