Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Wildfires - in the US and in Canada

I currently live in Michigan and so I have heard a significant amount of news about the smoke from the Canadian fires - and have been able to see the smoke outside my windows for many days. I'm happy to say yesterday and today the smoke has reduced to nearly nothing! This is wonderful news.

But, I have to stand up and speak up - in this case, I have to write about the appalling response to the smoke and fires from some elected officials in Michigan and throughout the country. Threatening our neighbors, Canada, with tariffs or anything else while they are dealing with these horrible fires is a despicable thing to do. We should be rushing to ask how we can help - not condemning our dear neighbors - especially when in this country we have wildfires which send smoke into Canada.

And I have to share some facts - because the truth does matter - at least it should . . .

Eight years ago on this very day, in 2018 the Carr fire broke out in Shasta County California - outside of Redding. I know about this fire, because my husband's sister was nearly trapped by the Carr fire. For hours we did not know if she was able to escape the flames. She did, but for nearly a month and a half she did not know if her home had been burned to the ground, or not. Thank God, her home survived. Sadly, so many others lost their homes. 

The Carr Fire is the ninth-most destructive wildfire in California history. It caused evacuations of over 36,000 people in the communities of French Gulch (where my sister-in-law lived), several other towns/cities, including the City of Redding, and caused closures of portions of Highway 299. The fire directly impacted the water sources of Keswick Dam and Shasta Dam and even jumped the Sacramento River, destroying homes and impacting air quality throughout Northern California and the Central Valley down to Bakersfield, and up to Oregon, Washington, and Nevada. Smoke reached as far north as Seattle, Washington, Boise, Idaho, and yes, into Canada. I can tell you, Canada did NOT threaten the US in any way when smoke from the Carr fire filled their skies. No. They instead were good neighbors and sent help to fight the fire - which is what they always do.

The Carr fire started when metal parts of a traveling vehicle scraped against pavement on Highway 299 and sparked a fire in the extremely dry grass near Carr Powerhouse Road. While immediate and aggressive response by emergency services personnel saved lives and property, extreme fire behavior including intense winds and even a fire tornado with an “F3” rating occurring within Redding. Inside Whiskeytown National Park, 97 percent of the national recreation area burned and over 100 structures were destroyed, making the Carr Fire the most destructive fire in National Park System history. Outside the park, 1,600 buildings were destroyed equaling $1.6 billion in damages. Eight people including three firefighters were killed overall, and 229,651 acres burned.

Megafires are defined as fires larger than 100,000 acres, and the number and violence of megafires are increasing throughout California. NASA, NOAA, and other governmental agencies specializing in science note how human-caused climate change is a major contributing factor. The Carr fire is just one example of fires in the US which send smoke into Canada - I am very familiar with this particular fire as it impacted my family and people I know - my husband and I met out in the Redding area and lived there for several years. (You will find more information about the Carr fire at this link - and the photo of the fire in this post is from the Carr fire - yes, those orange, smoky skies were because of the Carr fire in the US and the smoke went all the way to Canada.)

So, when elected officials here in the US condemn and threaten our dear neighbor to the North because of smoke and fires, especially when we have these fires/smoke as well, it is despicable and shameful behavior. So far this year, 41,236 fires have burned nearly 3.9 million acres across the United States. And, yes, some wildfire smoke has crossed borders in both directions, with regional U.S. fires (such as those in the Pacific Northwest and northern Minnesota) sending smoke into parts of British Columbia and neighboring Canadian regions. Not one Canadian leader criticized or threatened the US for "our" smoke entering their country. It is to our shame we are not able to say the same thing about the supposed leaders here in the US.

I hope the fires are extinguished (rain is possible this weekend) and the smoke stops - from the US to Canada, and from Canada to the US. But regardless of what happens, we in the US need to stand up and condemn the shameful words and attitudes coming from some elected officials here and do whatever we can to help our dear neighbors to the North. 

AND remember, most importantly, there is something YOU can do to help. Please choose at least one of the following ways to help . . .

Core Emergency Relief Funds

Canadian Red Cross: You can contribute directly to the Canadian Wildfire Fund online or call 1-800-418-1111. This fund powers immediate relief, shelter, and medical transportation for evacuees. 
GlobalGiving: Their Canada Wildfire Relief Fund supplies food, clean water, and emergency medical supplies to displaced families and first responders. 
CanadaHelps: Their centralized Crisis Relief Center aggregates donations and safely distributes them to multiple trusted Canadian charities. 
Community-Specific Relief: You can use CanadaHelps to donate to First Nations communities directly—or to tribal councils, band councils, and local non-profits—that are raising funds to rebuild, provide temporary shelter, or buy emergency supplies for members displaced by wildfires. 
Learn More: Use the CanadaHelps Homepage

Specialized & Equipment Donations

GlobalMedic: Financial support here directly procures critical fire-fighting skids and tactical gear for rural and volunteer fire departments. 
United Way British Columbia: The United for BC Wildfire Recovery Fund focuses on localized, long-term community rebuilding and mental health resources. 
Humane Societies: The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society accepts targeted funding to provide pet food, medicine, and safe emergency shelter for animals displaced by evacuations

Please help by giving to one or more of these organizations to help the people in Canada.