Forest Fires in the West
Wow, we are heading to Northern Idaho and Western Montana in a couple of weeks, and there are many active fires. It looks like a situation that I'll need to monitor. We'll be spending a few days w...
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Just got back from western Montana and idaho, yes there are fires, and some areas are pretty smokey. We actually stopped off the highway near Dillon Mt. to watch a trio of helicopters picking up water from the river near the highway and dumping on a fire near the freeway. Pretty smokey in that area and near Lews and clark Caverns.
Out of Missoula over Lolo Pass there was also lots of smoke from fires but that started to clear, but when we got to Orofino ID, smoke was heavy again from nearby fires. And lots of helicopters near Orofino picking up water from the clearwater river for the nearby fires.
Saw lots of burned areas visible from the highways along the whole trip, and we weren't out of the woods in Oregon, Big fire coming down the columbia river gorge as well.
But then, this is probably pretty typical of the august fire season. I've been in Montana/ID this time of year when fires were much worse, and other years fewer.
Out of Missoula over Lolo Pass there was also lots of smoke from fires but that started to clear, but when we got to Orofino ID, smoke was heavy again from nearby fires. And lots of helicopters near Orofino picking up water from the clearwater river for the nearby fires.
Saw lots of burned areas visible from the highways along the whole trip, and we weren't out of the woods in Oregon, Big fire coming down the columbia river gorge as well.
But then, this is probably pretty typical of the august fire season. I've been in Montana/ID this time of year when fires were much worse, and other years fewer.
