We finally got a good rainfall in the Okanagan which has helped tremendously with the fires in West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Lake Country and Kelowna.

M and I have been staying inside because the air quality has been so terrible. Our area was beginning to look like an apocalyptic movie; it was very dark out and the smell of wood smoke was extremely unsettling. At one point our fire alarm went off because smoke was managing to leak inside. Nevertheless, yesterday the air cleared up enough for us to take a short walk outside.

The beaches were eerily empty – the premier had asked tourists to leave because hotel spaces were needed for evacuees – and the downtown was uncharacteristically quiet for this time of year. After days of concentrated acridity, we were at last able to see something of Okanagan Lake although it was still wearing a smoke veil. But as we were coming home, it happened – rain, that is. Finally there was a good soaking which has hugely aided in the fire fighting efforts. Today, most of the road closures were rescinded and the Okanagan travel ban has been lifted. Hopefully, our skies will soon be completely clear again.

Many in the Okanagan have lost homes and possessions and are facing the huge task of re-building and starting over. I wish them all the best for the future.

The environmental damage has been enormous. All the hectares of forests, all the animals, the atmosphere … The only good news is that at least no one was hurt or injured, in part a testament to the forest fire safety planning and execution of those plans and to the extreme efforts of fire fighting personnel and their supporters.

My friends and colleagues in the Northwest Territories are still under threat and have been evacuated to numerous places all over the country. Although those fires seem to be holding, I hope they will soon be out and everyone is able to safely return home.

Happy Thursday.