While it just gets a small headline on the digital front page of The NY Times, what’s happening in Canada right now puts Maui in context — although the way the Times frames it, the big story is its effects on Washington State.
The Gray Fire burned more than 3,000 acres on Friday near two communities southwest of Spokane. Critical fire conditions were expected on Saturday.
A wildfire in eastern Washington State prompted evacuations and helicopter rescues on Friday as the authorities raced to contain blazes across the state and in the nearby Canadian province of British Columbia.
The Gray Fire, which began in Washington State around noon on Friday, burned through 3,000 acres over a few hours and threatened the communities of Medical Lake and Four Lakes. The areas, less than 20 miles southwest of Spokane, have a combined population of more than 5,000.
If you follow the link buried in the opening paragraph, you get a little more on how extensive the fire situation is up in Canada. Thousands of people and entire cities are being evacuated.
...All of British Columbia is now going to spend the weekend as ground zero. North of B.C, The people of Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, have spent the last two days in a desperate evacuation by all means available.
The Northwest Territories government says about 1,500 people were airlifted out of Yellowknife to safety on Thursday, and more flights are scheduled for Friday as the city is evacuated because of wildfire. Bad weather delayed some planned flights on Thursday, and flights weren't able to begin until 11 a.m. Ten flights carried people fleeing the approaching wildfire out of the capital on Thursday. People also got out on previously scheduled commercial flights and charters. There are currently 22 evacuation flights with about 1,800 seats available for Friday, August 18, according to the government. There will also be military aircraft available. Depending on need and availability, officials say additional flights may be organized for Saturday, too. "That will depend on many factors, including weather and crew time and the number of assets we're able to access," said Jennifer Young, emergency management organization information officer. "So with that in mind, we will potentially go into Saturday, but that is not yet confirmed."
THE LATEST:
Premier David Eby announced a provincial state of emergency at a news conference Friday, urging British Columbians to stay alert, listen to local officials and follow evacuation orders.
"If you get an evacuation order, please leave," Eby said. He also asked people to avoid non-essential travel to affected areas.
According to Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma, the number of people under evacuation order in B.C. went from 4,500 to 15,000 in an hour, and 20,000 more people are under evacuation alert.
Evacuation is just the start of what will be a long ordeal. What will the evacuees have to return to? What kind of help will they need?
What’s being found in Maui shows that the disaster isn't over just because the flames have died down.
Via The Washington Post:
Lahaina is plagued by hazardous debris, chemicals and undrinkable water. A big storm could worsen and spread the wildfire contamination.
...Hulks of blackened cars are visible throughout the town. Gas stations and propane tanks exploded and boats caught fire in the harbor over the course of hours as the town burned, according to residents who escaped the flames. The raging inferno sent toxic fumes and material spewing throughout the town and into the sea, and whenever the next big storm hits, it will flush even more contamination into local waters.
...After fires, toxic ash and dust that has settled on the ground can be stirred back up into the air months later. And when rain finally falls on the drought-stricken island, it may wash the hazards downstream if not cleaned from the soil in time. Any contamination that goes down the storm drain can end up in the ocean full of surfers and sea turtles.
...Andrew Whelton, an engineering professor at Purdue, said dirt needs to be tested and possibly six inches of soil needs to be removed from contaminated sites. And storm drain interceptors should be deployed to reduce toxic runoff, he said.
“People are going back to their properties that may have destroyed structures and encountering hazards that could make them acutely sick if they’re not protected,” Whelton said.
Is there a climate emergency if it’s not happening in your backyard? If it’s in another country, does it really count? Is it no big deal until Americans are caught up in it? If there’s no fire and smoke, it’s no big deal, right? There’s no problem in those parts of the world where English isn't the primary language, is there? And what’s the deal with
some storm heading for California?
This is what a climate emergency looks like. That it is still bigger than people seem ready to grasp is another form of denialism.