Dale Matson
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“Awahanee, CA, August
1, 2018 - The Ferguson Fire now in its 20th day, started July 13 on the Sierra
National Forest and is managed under unified command between the United States
Forest Service, California Interagency Incident Management Team 4, CALFIRE and
the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. Much of the fire is burning in steep,
rugged terrain with little to no access roads. Mandatory and advisory
evacuations are in place in several areas but no homes have been damaged or
destroyed.
The fire is now 62,883
acres with 39% containment and 3,558 personnel that are currently engaged on
the fire which include 203 engines, 43 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 95 crews,
5 masticators and 62 dozers. There has been 2 fatalities and 9 injuries to date.
1 structure has been destroyed.
The high-pressure
system above the fire is weakening which will result in warmer and drier
conditions. With lower winds speeds and the inversion layer forecasted to lift
by midday, residents are likely to see taller smoke columns than they are used
to seeing.” https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/
The smoke from this fire has penetrated the Central Valley
and where I live in Fresno. Today the Air Quality Index is 152 (unhealthy). We
are also about to break the number of consecutive days of triple digit heat
here in Fresno (over 20).
This combination of heat and air quality is the summer
equivalent to what I experienced in Wisconsin for many years only it was the
winter there that posed such challenges. We were captives of our furnaces and
by the time spring rolled around, we had had it up to here with cold and snow.
Lots of folks there went south for the winter or at least a couple of weeks.
Here, we are captives of our air conditioners.
This smoke has been difficult for many and I pity the fire fighters
who have to work in such heat and heavy smoke. How have I handled this
oppressive heat and smoke? Not well. It is pretty much a matter of hunkering
down until the conditions improve.
I wear a mask when I walk my dogs and give them shorter
walks. They have to breath this air too. I walk on a treadmill and use an
exercycle at an indoor fitness center. I have done some outdoor swimming but shortened
my routines.
We went to Cambria on the coast for a couple of day and
enjoyed freezing in clear air. Fresnans are not used to this kind of foggy
cold. We went to the eastside of the Sierra for a few days and hiked on trails
early in the morning with high elevation trailheads to stay comfortable.
Having lived in the Midwest for much of my life, I can say
that those folks are not sympathetic to our plight. They think we are all crazy
to live here. Maybe we are. Like the Midwest, I still carry chains in the
winter since we are only an hour from the mountains but that is where the
comparison ends.
Do I have any suggestions for Governor Brown on what to do about
this spate of annual summer wildfires? No.
As of this date, there are 3 fires creating smoke along the eastern sierra. There is smoke from Lone Pine to north of Lee Vining. The wilderness permits for most of the choice spots are reserved but I suspect many folks will not pick them up or cancel them. Yosemite remains closed indefinitely mostly from the Ferguson fire which is only 40% contained. This could continue until we get significant rains which will not be until Fall. I have cancelled two reserved hiking events on the east side. The stress on the wildlife and those fighting the fires must be horrible.
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