Scary is the word for this fire season. I live in the western US, and forest fires have been a part of the ecosystem for as long as I’ve been around. However, things are changing. It used to be that May to October was fire season. Well, it’s different these days.
The Marshall fire was December 30, 2022. December? Winter? What? Well, yes. An unusual set of circumstances, primarily that we had very little precipitation from June through December, following on the heels of a wet May. So the grass and other plants had put out very lush spring growth that was now seriously dry. Combine that with high(100 plus mph) winds and a spark, and there you go. High winds are pretty normal in winter, but combined with the extraordinary dryness it suddenly became extreme. And the burning continued well into town. That’s different, too.
Since the “big one”, we’ve become quite sensitized to fire around here. And thus far we’re having a rough fire season. And it’s only April. There’s been a fire every day this week in my county, fortunately without major damage. And down south in Monte Vista, they had a larger fire on Wednesday that did destroy some homes. And its burning down near Flagstaff, Arizona, where BA and I are supposed to join a Road Scholar trip on May 1. And did I mention the fire down near Ruidoso New Mexico? I’m sure there are more.
And today, Friday, is another red flag day, with extreme fire risk for much of Colorado. Here’s the NOAA Fire Weather Outlook map for today:
It is scary living in this changing world. Time to check my supplies and go bag.
And yet, on this Earth Day, I was reminded that even as there is very obvious evidence of climate change (you can argue cause if you like, but the change is clear),the planet still is beautiful and plants and animals continue to grow. BA and I had a beautiful walk a bit north of here, and for me, it inspired this haiku:
Rising sun clear sky Meadowlark and redwing sing Glory of morning
Lets each do our part to tread a bit more lightly on this planet, which we share with all creatures.
For today’s A to Z Blogging Challenge of S
Curious Steph 
Your haiku is beautiful as is your admonition to tread more lightly on our planet. ❤
Our planet is now blowing around down here so intensely that we got whatever that is that used to be a civil defense warning including instructions for how to drive in a dust storm and concluding with "Don't drive in a dust storm." I have had to drive in blowing dust once down here and it was scary. I didn't have to drive far, thank goodness, but…
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Thanks, Martha. Stay in if you can. Its gusting a fair amount here. A power line blew down downtown, but the fire and police and xcel energy are on site, and no fire, but it sure freaked some folks out.
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A fallen power line would freak me out, too. We’re not going anywhere. It’s gusting like a MOFO down here, too.
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We had a heavy rain storm overnight last night — woke me at about 3:30, and I thought for the next hour that it might be hailing. We’re finally just 1-1/2 inch shy of the average rainfall to date — won’t break our drought, but it will help a little. I think much of your weather actually begins here — I hope it brings some rain, and not fire!
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That would be lovely, thanks. Looks like the mountains may get some moisture at least
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I can’t imagine living with the threat of fires….I’m so sorry, and hope you get some much-needed rain soon!
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Thanks, Ann. Me too on the rain! All dances and prayers welcomed.
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Steph, that’s truly awful.
I’m a bit paranoid about walking in dry bushland on a windy day.
Living through a fire does change people’s behaviour.
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It’s a bit bizarre. Still windy but cloudy and cooler. Yesterday’s were quickly caught and extinguished. Be well
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Thank goodness for that, Steph. Going well here. Take care.
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We have been lucky in not having many big fires, but we’ve had a lot of smaller brush fires. The fire people believe these fires were all set on purpose. With so many huge fires elsewhere — and living in a very heavily treed area — it’s hard to believe anyone would intentionally start a fire, yet there is plenty of evidence suggesting they do.
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people do so many things that seem bizarre to me, including shooting each other, starting fires and all manner of stuff. Glad you haven’t had any “big ones”!
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