We have to protect our village.
May 31, 2010 8:49 AM Subscribe
Quebec is on fire.
The fire has caused evacuations, shut down a gasoline refinery, and people in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are starting to notice.
The fire has caused evacuations, shut down a gasoline refinery, and people in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are starting to notice.
Colis tabarnaq de cris! C'est terrible.
posted by empatterson at 8:58 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by empatterson at 8:58 AM on May 31, 2010
Honestly, I expected this fire to be the result of angry Montreal Canadiens fans.
posted by ghharr at 9:00 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ghharr at 9:00 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
"and people in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are starting to notice."
I'm sorry, I know this isn't funny, but the way this was phrased just made me picture an elderly, true blue-blood couple quietly reading their papers in their morning parlor, when the husband looks up and says through a clenched jaw, 'Muffy, do you smell something burning?' The woman replies, 'Only all my hopes and dreams on the pyre of our 40 year long, utterly loveless marriage, Skipper.' To which the man replies, 'Oh, well, that's all right, then,' and goes back to his paper.
Seriously, though, this is bad.
posted by quakerjono at 9:01 AM on May 31, 2010 [14 favorites]
I'm sorry, I know this isn't funny, but the way this was phrased just made me picture an elderly, true blue-blood couple quietly reading their papers in their morning parlor, when the husband looks up and says through a clenched jaw, 'Muffy, do you smell something burning?' The woman replies, 'Only all my hopes and dreams on the pyre of our 40 year long, utterly loveless marriage, Skipper.' To which the man replies, 'Oh, well, that's all right, then,' and goes back to his paper.
Seriously, though, this is bad.
posted by quakerjono at 9:01 AM on May 31, 2010 [14 favorites]
Jesus that's what that smell is. The woman on the CBC just casually mentioned "smoke in the air" without explaining anything, as part of the weather forecast.
posted by ServSci at 9:08 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by ServSci at 9:08 AM on May 31, 2010
Alaska also burns...
... yes, welcome to your horrible, horrible future. Thanks, Whelk.
::stands firm in his choice to never bring children into this world::
posted by PROD_TPSL at 9:10 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
... yes, welcome to your horrible, horrible future. Thanks, Whelk.
::stands firm in his choice to never bring children into this world::
posted by PROD_TPSL at 9:10 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
Man I'm driving up to Ottawa through Quebec in 3 days.
This is terrible. Hopefully they can stop it soon.
posted by Lemurrhea at 9:11 AM on May 31, 2010
This is terrible. Hopefully they can stop it soon.
posted by Lemurrhea at 9:11 AM on May 31, 2010
True enough, the air is pretty smoky over here. We're an hour west of Ottawa, where my friends have been commenting on it as well.
posted by mcwetboy at 9:11 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by mcwetboy at 9:11 AM on May 31, 2010
Yeah, I live in Sherbrooke, and woke up at 4:30 a.m. today with the thought HOLY FUCK MY HOUSE IS ON FIRE blazing through my brain, because there are no woodstoves in operation this late in May, and the smell of woodsmoke had drifted in through my (closed) window and gotten into my brain.
This is from a fire 300 kilometres away. If I were in Washington, DC, this would be a fire burning in New York City so fiercely that the smoke would travel that distance and get in through a sealed window, creating a blue haze of smog in the sky when I left work work at 7:30 a.m.
Incidentally, the audio in the linked video (first in the FPP) is a primer in how to swear your face off in Québecois. Pretty much classic stuff.
posted by Shepherd at 9:12 AM on May 31, 2010 [6 favorites]
This is from a fire 300 kilometres away. If I were in Washington, DC, this would be a fire burning in New York City so fiercely that the smoke would travel that distance and get in through a sealed window, creating a blue haze of smog in the sky when I left work work at 7:30 a.m.
Incidentally, the audio in the linked video (first in the FPP) is a primer in how to swear your face off in Québecois. Pretty much classic stuff.
posted by Shepherd at 9:12 AM on May 31, 2010 [6 favorites]
According to the article that gasoline refinery was shut down on February 2nd, so it's not part of the current situation.
Good luck to the firefighters in Quebec. Hopefully they can get those fires under control as soon as possible.
posted by Kevin Street at 9:15 AM on May 31, 2010
Good luck to the firefighters in Quebec. Hopefully they can get those fires under control as soon as possible.
posted by Kevin Street at 9:15 AM on May 31, 2010
Welcome to every summer in Salt Lake City. The smoke from those CA fires has to go somewhere, usually to our little valley. But seriously this sucks, and I hope they get it under control soon.
posted by msbutah at 9:17 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by msbutah at 9:17 AM on May 31, 2010
::stands firm in his choice to never bring children into this world::
That's a good way to make sure things never get any better.
posted by Liquidwolf at 9:18 AM on May 31, 2010 [14 favorites]
It's smoky here in Portland, Maine. There's a pretty thick haze, and it smells like a whole lot of woodstoves.
posted by rusty at 9:19 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by rusty at 9:19 AM on May 31, 2010
Looks like our usual annual summer fires here in CA. Orange sky all day, everything covered in a layer of gray ash. That delightful fresh smoky smell of the clothes dried out on the line.
posted by squalor at 9:21 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by squalor at 9:21 AM on May 31, 2010
Québec ... Québec .. Québec est en feu.
posted by jpolchlopek at 9:26 AM on May 31, 2010 [13 favorites]
posted by jpolchlopek at 9:26 AM on May 31, 2010 [13 favorites]
That's a good way to make sure things never get any better.
Ooh! I have a better idea. Let's think like bacteria instead of men and reproduce our way out of this mess. See, after this planet dies, another planet will come, uh, sniff the remains, and we'll infect the... well, we'll worry about that part when we come to it.
posted by fleetmouse at 9:28 AM on May 31, 2010 [6 favorites]
Ooh! I have a better idea. Let's think like bacteria instead of men and reproduce our way out of this mess. See, after this planet dies, another planet will come, uh, sniff the remains, and we'll infect the... well, we'll worry about that part when we come to it.
posted by fleetmouse at 9:28 AM on May 31, 2010 [6 favorites]
I woke up around 3am last night (i'm in montreal) smelling smoke, and was confused by the lack of sirens. Câlice ostie.
posted by cmyr at 9:28 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by cmyr at 9:28 AM on May 31, 2010
I'm in Boston, have been smelling smoke for two days, and today noticed it was unusually hazy. I was writing it all off to Memorial Day BBQs until a Canadian friend said it was a present from our friends up north. Crazy.
posted by olinerd at 9:29 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by olinerd at 9:29 AM on May 31, 2010
I'm in Montreal and also woke up at 4ish or so this morning thinking my building was on fire. Had no idea what was going on elsewhere in the province, but the air quality in Montreal today is utter crap. We're about 400-some kilometers away, I believe.
posted by juliebug at 9:30 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by juliebug at 9:30 AM on May 31, 2010
I'm keeping my kids inside today until the wind shifts. It's very strong here in up-up-up-upstate New York. From my house, the sky north is an ugly, yellowish haze. And maybe it's just the power of suggestion, but I feel remarkably out of breath after taking my dog for a short walk.
posted by saffry at 9:38 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by saffry at 9:38 AM on May 31, 2010
As Rusty mentioned, we've had a few days of haze and smoke smell now in Portland, ME.. the TV stations are alerting people to the fact with tickers so people will stop reporting fires to the local FD.
posted by mbatch at 9:42 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by mbatch at 9:42 AM on May 31, 2010
In Austin I've choked on the smoke from fires in the Yucatan, so yeah, smoke can travel pretty damn far.
Does anyone know or can point to resources on the history of Canadian forest management.
Specifically, has Canada suppressed forest fires to the point where there are massive fuel loads? I imagine, with the importance of logging in the Canadian economy, that their management plans probably looked a lot like the US ones.
My desire to believe in a more progressive Canada makes me hope that the "suppress fire at all costs" mentality broke down up there before it did down here, but even if it did, returning forests to a state where every fire does not have the potential to become catastrophic takes decades.
posted by Seamus at 9:42 AM on May 31, 2010
Does anyone know or can point to resources on the history of Canadian forest management.
Specifically, has Canada suppressed forest fires to the point where there are massive fuel loads? I imagine, with the importance of logging in the Canadian economy, that their management plans probably looked a lot like the US ones.
My desire to believe in a more progressive Canada makes me hope that the "suppress fire at all costs" mentality broke down up there before it did down here, but even if it did, returning forests to a state where every fire does not have the potential to become catastrophic takes decades.
posted by Seamus at 9:42 AM on May 31, 2010
Here in Ottawa, the air smells like a campfire. Leaving aside all the destruction for the folks in Quebec, I gotta say, I'm really enjoying it.
posted by wabbittwax at 9:45 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by wabbittwax at 9:45 AM on May 31, 2010
Air quality index for Ottawa today (link obsolete tomorrow; can't find permalink).
posted by mcwetboy at 9:48 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by mcwetboy at 9:48 AM on May 31, 2010
Do they know what started these? We get forest fires in the mountains here in late summer, and usually at least a few of them have been set deliberately.
posted by dilettante at 9:54 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by dilettante at 9:54 AM on May 31, 2010
My understanding is that these aren't entirely unexpected, with unusually dry and hot weather coupled with thunderstorms. I haven't heard anything about campfires or accidental ignition so far.
posted by cmyr at 10:02 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by cmyr at 10:02 AM on May 31, 2010
Jesus. That's a lot of fire.
dilettante, one of the links says dry lightning is the cause for the fires. But here in California, dry lightning starts some, accidents start others, and arsonists take care of the rest. Maybe the same in Quebec.
posted by rtha at 10:02 AM on May 31, 2010
dilettante, one of the links says dry lightning is the cause for the fires. But here in California, dry lightning starts some, accidents start others, and arsonists take care of the rest. Maybe the same in Quebec.
posted by rtha at 10:02 AM on May 31, 2010
Here in Ottawa. I feel guilty for enjoying the smell on my way in to work...
posted by Theta States at 10:04 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by Theta States at 10:04 AM on May 31, 2010
Check out Environment Canada's symbol for the weather today in Montreal...
posted by goat at 10:09 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by goat at 10:09 AM on May 31, 2010
holy, crap. does this sort of thing happen frequently up there?
i invite you all to take refuge in new orleans, but bear in mind hurricane season starts today. and we're a little ... greasy here lately.
posted by msconduct at 10:11 AM on May 31, 2010
i invite you all to take refuge in new orleans, but bear in mind hurricane season starts today. and we're a little ... greasy here lately.
posted by msconduct at 10:11 AM on May 31, 2010
Yoooouuuuuuu, Quebec is on fire!
Consumed with what's to transpire
posted by emilyd22222 at 10:15 AM on May 31, 2010
Consumed with what's to transpire
posted by emilyd22222 at 10:15 AM on May 31, 2010
Status of The Arcade: Unknown.
posted by The Whelk at 10:18 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:18 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
It's been dry the past couple of weeks around here, all of the rain has stayed South. But there are thunderstorms predicted for this coming week, let's hope they bring rain (and not just set off more fires).
posted by tommasz at 10:18 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by tommasz at 10:18 AM on May 31, 2010
I don't think arson is as much of a risk up there because of the low population density. Here's a google map of La Tuque, one of the larger affected towns.
View Larger Map
posted by cmyr at 10:19 AM on May 31, 2010
View Larger Map
posted by cmyr at 10:19 AM on May 31, 2010
We were smelling this bigtime last night in Montreal, I thought it was just latenight BBQs or something but it was definitely a wood-burning smell and not a charcoal-burning smell.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 10:19 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 10:19 AM on May 31, 2010
Also you guys seem to have crashed the environment canada site.
posted by cmyr at 10:20 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by cmyr at 10:20 AM on May 31, 2010
Check out Environment Canada's symbol for the weather today in Montreal
The next two days look like the apocalypse in iconic form.
posted by Hiker at 10:21 AM on May 31, 2010
The next two days look like the apocalypse in iconic form.
posted by Hiker at 10:21 AM on May 31, 2010
I'm really getting tired of amateur video. Stop the f-ing car and point the camera OUT THE WINDOW AT THE EVENT IN QUESTION.
posted by twsf at 10:30 AM on May 31, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by twsf at 10:30 AM on May 31, 2010 [5 favorites]
Sure, let's do that while we're trying to get away from the giant fire.
posted by sandraregina at 10:35 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by sandraregina at 10:35 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was riding my bike around town (Cambridge, MA) trying to track down the smell of burning. Imagine my surprise when I found out I was a few hundred miles off!
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 10:40 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 10:40 AM on May 31, 2010
Well shit.. So our neighbors to the north are on-fire. So that's right out. Mexico is too drug warry.
Should we all just gather in the center of North America and huddle together for warmth?
Michigan: Awfully Mad Max.
Minnesota: Michelle Bachman. Cinders can blow in from Canada.
North Dakota: Depressing. Dusty in summer.
Montana: Wants to Secede. Too flat, poor drainage.
Idaho: Low end of the bell curve for Montana and Oregon.
Washington: Dreary dreary dreary dreary dreary. Also, dreary.
Oregon: Coast is very Windy. Near Idaho.
California: Bankrupt, Shithole, Pollution filled, also soon to be on fire.
Arizona: Too hot and racist.
New Mexico: The Gobots to Arizona's transformers
Texas: Fucking Texas.
Lousiana: Oily, Flooded and Destroyed.
Mississippi: Louisiana without the food.
Alabama: Thank god for Mississippi.
Florida: Soon to be hurricaned, oily, full of old people and giant bugs. Also, grouchy Cubans
Georgia: Like a 3rd world theme park. Atlanta.
South Carolina: Wishes it could be North Carolina
North Carolina: Incoherent barbecue
Virginia: Taint from West Virginia
Maryland: Make up your fucking mind if you were in the confederacy or not. Also, The Wire.
Delaware: The Fuck? Who lives in Delaware?
New Jersey: All the jackassery of New York without getting to live in New York.
New York: Like living in a filthy movie set. Expensive and smells funny during summer.
Connecticut: Too arrogant.
Rhode Island: Too Small.
Massachusetts: Undrinkable water. Kennedys are irritating.
Maine: Forestfolk can be a bit scary. Deliverance with Lobsters. Might catch on fire.
I don't want to live in the Flyover states.. I'm not sure what that leaves..
Maybe Vermont? Is that too close to Canada in terms of flammability?
Perhaps Guam instead.
posted by Lord_Pall at 10:44 AM on May 31, 2010 [18 favorites]
Yeah, Mrs. B is proclaiming news of Celine's twins as a sign of the apocalypse, but I look on the CBC and see that outside it's still "19 degrees and Smoke".
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:51 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:51 AM on May 31, 2010
Here in Ottawa, the air smells like a campfire. Leaving aside all the destruction for the folks in Quebec, I gotta say, I'm really enjoying it.
Having just come back from camping this weekend, this puzzles me greatly. Burning stubble is the first thing I thought this morning, but wrong season for it...
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:52 AM on May 31, 2010
Having just come back from camping this weekend, this puzzles me greatly. Burning stubble is the first thing I thought this morning, but wrong season for it...
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:52 AM on May 31, 2010
I know what everyone in Montreal (and myself) will be drinking tonight
posted by The Whelk at 10:57 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:57 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
Whelk, that is some seriously good beer and worthy of drinkin' regardless.
posted by Shepherd at 10:58 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Shepherd at 10:58 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I woke up this morning in a small town east of Concord, NH, and could smell the smoke (but didn't know what it was). I drove back to Cambridge, MA and I can still smell the smoke here, although it's fainter. This is terrible.
posted by A dead Quaker at 11:10 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by A dead Quaker at 11:10 AM on May 31, 2010
Having just come back from camping this weekend, this puzzles me greatly. Burning stubble is the first thing I thought this morning, but wrong season for it...
In wabbittwax's defense, he doesn't like the outdoors or anything related to it. Appreciating the smell of burning from our front door is the closest to camping/nature I've gotten him in the last 9 years.
posted by Abbril at 11:13 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
In wabbittwax's defense, he doesn't like the outdoors or anything related to it. Appreciating the smell of burning from our front door is the closest to camping/nature I've gotten him in the last 9 years.
posted by Abbril at 11:13 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
If this sort of thing is happening in May, July and August are going to be awesome.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:20 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:20 AM on May 31, 2010
Lord Pall, you forgot Pennsylvania: Awesome.
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 11:44 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 11:44 AM on May 31, 2010
America, your hat is on fire!
NOT CANADA-IST
posted by nicwolff at 11:47 AM on May 31, 2010 [4 favorites]
NOT CANADA-IST
posted by nicwolff at 11:47 AM on May 31, 2010 [4 favorites]
Curses, my bee invasion of the North will have to wait another year.
WAKE UP, YOU HONEY-ARSED LAGGARDS!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:54 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
WAKE UP, YOU HONEY-ARSED LAGGARDS!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:54 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure what that leaves..
Alaska ... uh, probably not. Hawaii?
posted by jgirl at 12:06 PM on May 31, 2010
Alaska ... uh, probably not. Hawaii?
posted by jgirl at 12:06 PM on May 31, 2010
I woke up this morning here in Ottawa, and my sleepy brain processed the smoke smell as a peat fire. Then my logic centres fired and I went, "wait, wrong season, wrong country".
My thoughts are with the firefighters and the first nations community who have been evacuated to safety.
posted by LN at 12:10 PM on May 31, 2010
My thoughts are with the firefighters and the first nations community who have been evacuated to safety.
posted by LN at 12:10 PM on May 31, 2010
Ooh! I have a better idea. Let's think like bacteria instead of men and reproduce our way out of this mess.
My children are not bacteria, and I find the practice of dehumanizing other human beings to be deeply morally objectionable, and is part of the problem, rather than the solution to the negative impacts of human activity on the ecosphere.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:11 PM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
My children are not bacteria, and I find the practice of dehumanizing other human beings to be deeply morally objectionable, and is part of the problem, rather than the solution to the negative impacts of human activity on the ecosphere.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:11 PM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
Thanks, SteelyDuran.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:33 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:33 PM on May 31, 2010
SteelyDuran, I think those are from 2002. Cool pictures though.
posted by marmIrite? at 12:37 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by marmIrite? at 12:37 PM on May 31, 2010
Also interesting: Wunderground Fire/Smoke overlays. You can roll the date back as well. Satellites were detecting the fires as of about 26 May, expanding rapidly and hugely.
posted by SteelyDuran at 12:39 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by SteelyDuran at 12:39 PM on May 31, 2010
Oh my! Yes, the Visible Earth link is ancient. Thanks, marmIrite?.
posted by SteelyDuran at 12:44 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by SteelyDuran at 12:44 PM on May 31, 2010
The smell was gone this morning but the wind must have changed, it's back again. Rather pleasant until one thinks about it.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 1:12 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 1:12 PM on May 31, 2010
The smell of smoke was noticeable this morning in Central Vermont, it's still fairly hazy and I can smell the smoke just slightly. People with asthma have been encouraged to stay indoors until after 7 pm.
posted by Wuggie Norple at 1:24 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by Wuggie Norple at 1:24 PM on May 31, 2010
Ah. I see the Great Concavity is coming along well.
posted by Len at 1:42 PM on May 31, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by Len at 1:42 PM on May 31, 2010 [4 favorites]
New Mexico: The Gobots to Arizona's transformers
I'm not entirely clear on what you're implying there, but as a New Mexican I don't think I like it ...
posted by krinklyfig at 1:44 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm not entirely clear on what you're implying there, but as a New Mexican I don't think I like it ...
posted by krinklyfig at 1:44 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Looks like our usual annual summer fires here in CA
Almost... except that that forest fire is burning in a much greener part of the world, which was covered in snow prolly (I'm guessing) <>pretty warm winter up there.
posted by Lukenlogs at 1:50 PM on May 31, 2010
Almost... except that that forest fire is burning in a much greener part of the world, which was covered in snow prolly (I'm guessing) <>pretty warm winter up there.
posted by Lukenlogs at 1:50 PM on May 31, 2010
Woops, missed the link on this season's warm Quebec winter.
posted by Lukenlogs at 1:51 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by Lukenlogs at 1:51 PM on May 31, 2010
We're still seeing a fair amount of haze here in New Hampshire. I've been more or less offline (because I am here on vacation) so we only heard about this today. Holy smokes.
posted by Karmakaze at 1:59 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by Karmakaze at 1:59 PM on May 31, 2010
I'm in northern VT and I noticed it this morning when I went for a run and felt like my lungs were on fire. It would truly suck to be in a region that is downwind from a lot of forest fires.
posted by pintapicasso at 2:32 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by pintapicasso at 2:32 PM on May 31, 2010
Yeah, I also had that moment of panic waking up this morning in Ottawa trying to figure out what the heck was burning. With my asthma I decided to play it safe and stay home today.
posted by aclevername at 2:40 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by aclevername at 2:40 PM on May 31, 2010
If you're curious about the florid Quebecois profanity and why it makes no sense whatsoever to your high-school French skills, Wikipedia is here to help with a quick rundown on sacre.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 2:57 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 2:57 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I thought I was hallucinating it from a migraine last night, and today have been coughing my little lungs (and sometimes stomach) out. A friend mentioned that when she -- like everyone else in Montreal -- phoned 911 to report a fire she was immediately put on hold, before she even mentioned the smell of fire. Bad night to have an actual emergency.
posted by jeather at 3:00 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by jeather at 3:00 PM on May 31, 2010
not that familiar with canada, but is quebec like the west virginia of our northern friends?
posted by phoffmann at 3:07 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by phoffmann at 3:07 PM on May 31, 2010
not that familiar with canada, but is quebec like the west virginia of our northern friends?
Not sure I follow the analogy here (not knowing enough about West Virginia to see the parallel), but I would have said more like Texas, because of their insistence that they're practically a country of their own and they occasionally threaten to secede.
posted by wabbittwax at 3:33 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not sure I follow the analogy here (not knowing enough about West Virginia to see the parallel), but I would have said more like Texas, because of their insistence that they're practically a country of their own and they occasionally threaten to secede.
posted by wabbittwax at 3:33 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm a solid 430+ miles southeast of these fires (lowell, ma) and there's a distinct haze outside. I thought for sure I was making it up because I'd already heard of the fires, but after reading everyones comments here, I'm fairly certain it's for real. (Probably 99% of my extended family lives in Quebec, so that first "Quebec is on fire" line worried me a bit, but a quick map check tells me they're about 4 hours away from this... )
posted by lisawin at 3:39 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by lisawin at 3:39 PM on May 31, 2010
not that familiar with canada, but is quebec like the west virginia of our northern friends?
That would be Cape Breton, for pretty much every conceivable reason.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:23 PM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
That would be Cape Breton, for pretty much every conceivable reason.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:23 PM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
We rode our bikes around for a while in Cambridge looking for the source of the smoke, too. It was so hazy the top of the Prudential Center was obscured.
I hope the fires can be stopped soon...
posted by Cygnet at 4:51 PM on May 31, 2010
I hope the fires can be stopped soon...
posted by Cygnet at 4:51 PM on May 31, 2010
Local smoke, haze a product of Quebec wildfires from the Gloucester, (MA) Times.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets Nantucket
Here in northern MA, it's like Beijing on a moderately-bad day.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:10 PM on May 31, 2010
Smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets Nantucket
Here in northern MA, it's like Beijing on a moderately-bad day.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:10 PM on May 31, 2010
California: Bankrupt, Shithole, Pollution filled, also soon to be on fire.
I live in San Diego, and I think if you took a walk outside here today you'd have a really hard time believing you lived in a pollution-filled shithole. You're right about the fire danger and the bankruptcy, though. Not to mention the earthquakes. But hey, we might get legal weed in a few months.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 5:13 PM on May 31, 2010
I live in San Diego, and I think if you took a walk outside here today you'd have a really hard time believing you lived in a pollution-filled shithole. You're right about the fire danger and the bankruptcy, though. Not to mention the earthquakes. But hey, we might get legal weed in a few months.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 5:13 PM on May 31, 2010
My parents just got back from Cape Cod and they said they woke up and thought the building next door was on fire. They also said that it was really hazy and you couldn't see very far in front of you, maybe a quarter of a mile.
I remember when I was still in high school (5? 6? years ago) there where fires up in Quebec and it turned the sky here orange for awhile, so far I can only smell the faint scent of smoke in the hair here in central MA.
posted by lilkeith07 at 5:55 PM on May 31, 2010
I remember when I was still in high school (5? 6? years ago) there where fires up in Quebec and it turned the sky here orange for awhile, so far I can only smell the faint scent of smoke in the hair here in central MA.
posted by lilkeith07 at 5:55 PM on May 31, 2010
North shore area of Massachusetts is really hazy and smokey right now- looked like the sun was setting a good hour before it got to the horizon.
posted by jenkinsEar at 6:00 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by jenkinsEar at 6:00 PM on May 31, 2010
This is bizarre, I live in Brooklyn and was smelling wood smoke as I got off the subway (and of course, wondering slightly if my house had burnt down as a result...) and now I read this...! I can't believe I'd be able to smell it here, though.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 6:30 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 6:30 PM on May 31, 2010
Is the thread title a reference to a Heritage Minute? I thought it was this one, but it doesn't appear there.
posted by Decimask at 6:40 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by Decimask at 6:40 PM on May 31, 2010
Seconding the wood smoke smell in brooklyn, but this town is so far away and so otherwise stinky that it's got to be something else.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 6:50 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 6:50 PM on May 31, 2010
Did it start in the Arcade?
posted by limnrix at 8:00 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by limnrix at 8:00 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seamus, I believe it has been recognized for decades that large fires are necessary, especially in the boreal forest. natural Resources Canada probably has a timeline on how firefighting has changed. To be honest though, the forests in Canada are so underpopulated (2,000 evacuated from these huge fires in Quebec - not too many, eh?) I think they were probably mostly un-noticed in the past.
posted by saucysault at 8:19 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by saucysault at 8:19 PM on May 31, 2010
My desire to believe in a more progressive Canada makes me hope that the "suppress fire at all costs" mentality broke down up there before it did down here, but even if it did, returning forests to a state where every fire does not have the potential to become catastrophic takes decades.
You gotta understand a few things about American forest fire prevention. (Maybe its different now than when I was a smoke eater digging through ash looking for greenbacks, but I doubt it.)
First, fire prevention is a cost that fall on the states. If a fire gets large enough, the feds come in with people, equipment and money and help put it out.
So... you're a cost conscious state senator from some large forested state. Do you hire, train, and equip a large number of people to manage and control thousands of smaller controlled burns at your state's expense ? Or do you just hope one doesn't happen, counting on the fact that if it does, it gets large enough to result in a small to moderate windfalll for your state ?
Well, thats easy.
There are complicating factors - tourism, logging rights, land use rights, water rights, etc etc etc. It is not a straightforward problem. But the money is the main thing, to be sure.
All of that being said, my time fighting forest fires was some of the best of my life. It was like an all expense paid camping trip to some of the best scenery america has to offer. If you're in college, or otherwise able to blow away a summer, I highly recommend it.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:55 PM on May 31, 2010
You gotta understand a few things about American forest fire prevention. (Maybe its different now than when I was a smoke eater digging through ash looking for greenbacks, but I doubt it.)
First, fire prevention is a cost that fall on the states. If a fire gets large enough, the feds come in with people, equipment and money and help put it out.
So... you're a cost conscious state senator from some large forested state. Do you hire, train, and equip a large number of people to manage and control thousands of smaller controlled burns at your state's expense ? Or do you just hope one doesn't happen, counting on the fact that if it does, it gets large enough to result in a small to moderate windfalll for your state ?
Well, thats easy.
There are complicating factors - tourism, logging rights, land use rights, water rights, etc etc etc. It is not a straightforward problem. But the money is the main thing, to be sure.
All of that being said, my time fighting forest fires was some of the best of my life. It was like an all expense paid camping trip to some of the best scenery america has to offer. If you're in college, or otherwise able to blow away a summer, I highly recommend it.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:55 PM on May 31, 2010
I've worked in the Mauricie region quite a bit, forest fires happen almost annually but rarely this big, and very rarely this early in the year.
Back in 1995 there was a large fire in the region caused by an estimated 46,000 lightning strikes which lasted about 2 months and caused considerable damage (64,000 hectares of forest destroyed, the vegetation in that area has still not recovered).
The region around Wemotaci is very sparsely inhabited; Wemotaci itself is a small native village and the rest of the area is mostly hunting cottages. The nearest big town is La Tuque about 100 km away (pop. ~12,000).
There is a CN rail line going right through the region, several Hydro-Quebec dams and a high tension electrical line; but these companies have emergency plans to protect their infrastructure (lots of water pumps). VIA Rail has stopped passenger traffic to the region due to the fires. Currently we are all now hoping for rain.
posted by Vindaloo at 9:21 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Back in 1995 there was a large fire in the region caused by an estimated 46,000 lightning strikes which lasted about 2 months and caused considerable damage (64,000 hectares of forest destroyed, the vegetation in that area has still not recovered).
The region around Wemotaci is very sparsely inhabited; Wemotaci itself is a small native village and the rest of the area is mostly hunting cottages. The nearest big town is La Tuque about 100 km away (pop. ~12,000).
There is a CN rail line going right through the region, several Hydro-Quebec dams and a high tension electrical line; but these companies have emergency plans to protect their infrastructure (lots of water pumps). VIA Rail has stopped passenger traffic to the region due to the fires. Currently we are all now hoping for rain.
posted by Vindaloo at 9:21 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
People with asthma have been encouraged to stay indoors until after 7 pm.
Ah, yes. Canadian fires do tend to go to bed early.
posted by schmod at 9:29 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ah, yes. Canadian fires do tend to go to bed early.
posted by schmod at 9:29 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Was shocked by how hazy/smoky it was here in Boston this morning. I had no idea about the fires in Québec, so I assumed something was burning in the neighborhood and, obviously, couldn't find it.
posted by threeants at 10:13 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by threeants at 10:13 PM on May 31, 2010
Just flew in from Toronto to Baltimore today. Nothing unusual in either city, so I'm guessing that, like the 2002ish fire (and back then, I lived in north-central New Jersey, and there was just a hint of it in the skies there), winds are blowing this south-southeast. Which means us Baltimorons are going to miss out on the fun . . .
But in all seriousness, hope this gets fixed soon. :-\
posted by CommonSense at 10:15 PM on May 31, 2010
But in all seriousness, hope this gets fixed soon. :-\
posted by CommonSense at 10:15 PM on May 31, 2010
Alaska also burns...
To be fair, Alaska always burns in the summer. Every summer. And rarely close to any city.
posted by rhapsodie at 10:19 PM on May 31, 2010
To be fair, Alaska always burns in the summer. Every summer. And rarely close to any city.
posted by rhapsodie at 10:19 PM on May 31, 2010
Honestly, I expected this fire to be the result of angry Montreal Canadiens fans.
I expected this fire to be the result of bored Montreal Canadiens.
I went out during 2nd intermission last night and there appeared to be very fine ash falling. I'm in central Maine.
posted by woodjockey at 5:16 AM on June 1, 2010
I expected this fire to be the result of bored Montreal Canadiens.
I went out during 2nd intermission last night and there appeared to be very fine ash falling. I'm in central Maine.
posted by woodjockey at 5:16 AM on June 1, 2010
Incidentally, the audio in the linked video (first in the FPP) is a primer in how to swear your face off in Québecois. Pretty much classic stuff.
Now I have to watch it again.
posted by Xany at 5:28 AM on June 1, 2010
Now I have to watch it again.
posted by Xany at 5:28 AM on June 1, 2010
Montana: Wants to Secede. Too flat, poor drainage.
what?
posted by desjardins at 6:18 AM on June 1, 2010
what?
posted by desjardins at 6:18 AM on June 1, 2010
Some ash falling down here in coastal Maine, and it seemed really hazy yesterday.
posted by dunkadunc at 7:39 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by dunkadunc at 7:39 AM on June 1, 2010
In Worcester, MA, it was really hazy and wood-smoke smelling all of the sudden just before dusk yesterday. I had heard about this back on Saturday, but I was still kind of shocked to see it actually make it to where I live...
posted by rollbiz at 8:58 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by rollbiz at 8:58 AM on June 1, 2010
My mom in Montreal is trying to recover from pneumonia and this sure isn't helping.
posted by tangerine at 9:43 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by tangerine at 9:43 AM on June 1, 2010
It was pretty dense in eastern/central New Hampshire yesterday and Sunday. At first, everyone was wondering where the fire was -- thinking it was local.
posted by VicNebulous at 12:51 PM on June 1, 2010
posted by VicNebulous at 12:51 PM on June 1, 2010
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posted by nola at 8:53 AM on May 31, 2010