Surrounded By Fire in Kelowna & West Kelowna

[@IstasPumaNevada]

My heart goes out to everyone up there, yourself included. I hope you all stay as safe as possible. I have a friend up in the area and she has been stressed, to severely understate it. We had the local sheriff come to our door in 2017 and say "you should pack up now, you'll probably need to be evacuated by tonight" when the Rice Ridge Fire grew 24,000 hectares/60,000 acres in one day near here, so I know a bit of that feeling. No houses lost in that one ultimately, thankfully, despite final fire size of 630 square kilometers.

[@Scoottoots]

Thank you. Fires can change in a heartbeat depending on conditions. I hope your friend will be safe, and less stressed soon as things hopefully improve.

[@troyhomfray6773]

I can sympathise with you being from Southwest Australia, I know how devastating these fires can be. Best wishes and stay safe, I hope they can put it out soon.

[@Scoottoots]

Thank you. Better days are coming. The fires have become more manageable today. Heavy smoke still.

[@iananderson1422]

I sincerly hope that everyone in the Kelowna area stays safe. It has been a brutal year for wildfires in Canada and worldwide.Really bring the power of mother nature to the fore. Keep safe Scoot.

[@Scoottoots]

Nature has immense power. The best course for us is to work with it as much as we can. Pretty futile to work against nature. It's been a difficult year, and difficult years are becoming more common now. One of the greatest strengths of humans is adaptability. We're being called to change our ways, and so we must.

[@IstasPumaNevada]

Not only the power of mother nature, but amplified by the consequences of human actions too. Humanity needs to take much greater measures than we're doing to halt and undo the global warming we're causing that's making these fire seasons longer, more intense, and more widespread (some countries are particularly lax, like the U.S. where I live).

[@Scoottoots]

@@IstasPumaNevada Yes, for sure, we need to be accountable for the consequences of our actions.

[@iananderson1422]

@@Scoottoots Thanks again Scoot. I did not want to get into the politics of climate change but at times we can be our own worst enemies.

[@Scoottoots]

@@iananderson1422 So true!

[@erichalitsky1285]

Stay safe John , we've had a lot of smoke here in northern Michigan this summer from the fires up there.

[@Scoottoots]

Yes, I've heard of the impact our fires are having on you. Our local fires have become a bit more manageable today, so that's good news. Thanks Eric.

[@Lisa-pu9di]

Its horrible, my friend and her family are in Lakeview heights, yesterday they were told to be prepared, but no evacuation, i haven't spoken to her today. Hubby and i were just there a week and a half ago. Stay safe!!

[@Scoottoots]

So far I think her area is not in the high danger zone, though she is no doubt inundated with thick smoke at the moment. Fingers crossed for an end to this in the next few days. Thanks Lisa.

[@cbk95]

Stay safe John

[@bsc1463]

All the Best to you and yours ! Stay safe 🙏

[@Scoottoots]

Thank you, bro. Hunkering down indoors with an air purifier running. Sooo heavy with smoke outside. Better days are coming ;-)

[@XnnorDaveB]

Sorry to hear what you’s are going through out there 🙏

[@Scoottoots]

Thank you. It is appreciated.

[@josephpotterf9459]

yhanks n be safe too.

[@Scoottoots]

Thank you :-)

[@davejoe2592]

Stay safe Scoot. I hope all works out well for your son as well

[@Scoottoots]

Thanks Davejoe, hopefully it will end soon. Pretty smoky still.

[@daveholmes123]

Our Internet is out, but we hope you all are doing ok! Prayers for all

[@Scoottoots]

Thanks Dave, still extremely smoky but the main fire around here is more manageable now, and my son and family were able to return to their home today :-)

[@mcscotty325]

Can't help but think all these fires around the world aren't coincidental.

[@Scoottoots]

Yes, we live in a cause and effect universe. It really helps when we try our best to see the causes and make changes. Different actions = different effect.

[@rockerfeller9492]

let us know if kelowna UBCO area fire get any updates

[@Scoottoots]

I haven't seen an update this morning for that area. The last update is from last night and the area was under evacuation order. Things will change through the day.

[@airadaimagery692]

How are these fires getting started?

[@IRQ1Conflict]

Lightening. Drought. Wind. Bad combo.

[@Scoottoots]

Sometimes lightening combined with drought, sometimes careless use of the backcountry including homeless encampments where there seems to be no accountability or common sense applied.

[@IstasPumaNevada]

Wildfires are a normal part of the life cycle of some forests, they get started by lightning even without any human ignition sources. Unfortunately, due to a combination of global warming/climate change (increasing the length and severity of fire seasons as time goes on), and current swings in drought, heat, and wind, it's VERY bad at the moment.

[@Scoottoots]

@@IstasPumaNevada Yup, so true. Fire is a natural and essential element for the health of forested areas and the wildlife that inhabits them. The issue for humans is when those fires interface with settlements. Then of course they need to be dealt with. There are times when it's tough to know whether a fire will be an asset to the forest system or a threat to people. Climate changes that are happening now are making all this very difficult for people.

[@florinadrian7957]

holly shit ! it looks horrible even on camera , is like it was filmed with sepia effect !

[@Scoottoots]

Yeah it was surreal yesterday. When I returned from the ride it quickly got much much worse.