Do you smell smoke?

2

Comments

  • ArtAngelArtAngel Posts: 1,694
    edited June 2023

    Thank God no. This is terrible. I know the world is tired of N95 masks but they will help (won't help pets they need to pant). Bird are the most suceptible so have a moist cloth over cages (not wet). Cloths not wrung out well, can stop the air flow). This may help other small pets that can be caged People sometimes forget to NOT use vacuums if you can smell smoke. Just clean with damp rags or wet mops. Do  not use air conditioners unless they are those certified portable units that recycle indoor air or your unit has a recirculation setting to prevent outdoor air from coming in. 2020 was a record year here in California but I remember in 2004 or 2005 ashes falling from the sky while I was working the San Gabriel Market. In 2020, for weeks the smoke was like a thick blanket of marine fog. Now, soon, according to this New York Times map Toronto and area will move from heavy to moderate and Buffalo will worsen and  US coastal Brick, Tom's River to Ocean City get no reprieve. But wildfires are highly unpredictable. There is a .gov Fire and Smoke map here and another at .CA better wildfire smoke forecast map run by the Canadian Government (Alberta Environmental Parks & University of BC). Stay safe.

    Edited to remove a non-function link.

    Post edited by ArtAngel on
  • lou_harperlou_harper Posts: 1,163

    In California we had ton of rain past winter, ergo lots of shrubbery that is already drying out. There will be some monster fires later this year. Again.

  • AllenArtAllenArt Posts: 7,169
    edited June 2023

    The smoke has reached southern Pennsylvania today, though it's not super bad (yet) and you can't really smell it - only see it. If anything, I hope it sparks thunderstorms and rain as we're exceptionally dry (my area just instituted a burn ban this week). But, since this girl has a touch of asthma, I'm going to stay indoors until it clears. :) I have the A/C on, which goes through the house filter, but I fear hubby may have to go to the attic and replace it after this clears up. :P

    Post edited by AllenArt on
  • nonesuch00nonesuch00 Posts: 18,131
    edited June 2023

    i went to the track today at 8:45 AM near the Kentucky - Tennesee border and there was a heavy, cool fog, not smoke or smog, which is unusual for as late as June and as late as 8:45 AM so I think it must be the smoke is up high cooling the atmosphere and causing the fog. By the time I left the track at 9:45 AM, the fog had burned off. It was probably the cause of the all day rain yesterday too. This area is often hazy in the heat of summer so I really don't see a notable difference in that regard.

    Post edited by nonesuch00 on
  • memcneil70memcneil70 Posts: 4,115

    A doctor on MSNBC was being interviewed about the health risks this afternoon and was asked about masking. Surgical masks don't do any good, and the N95 also doesn't. What the doctor recommended was the N100, which is a professional grade mask for fine particulates. (I may have the part number off slightly. But it was a 100 for sure.)

  • RL_MediaRL_Media Posts: 339

    Im in NB, Canada. No smoke up here.

  • The portions of the Ozarks north & west of us have been very hazy the past week. I suspect the Missouri fires mentioned on page 1.

  • AgitatedRiotAgitatedRiot Posts: 4,437
    edited June 2023

    miladyderyni_173d399f47 said:

    The portions of the Ozarks north & west of us have been very hazy the past week. I suspect the Missouri fires mentioned on page 1.

    Missouri is getting its share of the Canadian Wild Fires smoke. Fires in Missouri Right now, I think there are 3 in Mark Twain National Forest. Some are going on by Ft Leonard Wood, down by Big Springs in the Current Creek National Forest. In the last month. This one has all the fires that have happened.

    Missouri Wildfire Map - Current Missouri Wildfires, Forest Fires, and Lightning Strikes | Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center (fireweatheravalanche.org)

    Post edited by AgitatedRiot on
  • ArtAngelArtAngel Posts: 1,694

    memcneil70 said:

    A doctor on MSNBC was being interviewed about the health risks this afternoon and was asked about masking. Surgical masks don't do any good, and the N95 also doesn't. What the doctor recommended was the N100, which is a professional grade mask for fine particulates. (I may have the part number off slightly. But it was a 100 for sure.)

    This is incorrect. Any mask is better than no mask and the N95 Respirator masks can help protect your lungs from wildfire smoke

  • ArtAngelArtAngel Posts: 1,694

    Back in the early to mid 2000's when I was a volunteer with the CDF Mountain Bike Unit, we often went up into the Canyon above highway 38,and other areas where fire hazards were an above average risk, I think it was between 2005-2007,  to educate and encourage homeowners to remove dry brush and safe-proof their homes from wildfires by clearing the home ignition zone. But homeowners weren't always receptive about such thoughts. It really starts there because lightning strikes and dry brush make the perfect firestorm.

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  • Catherine3678abCatherine3678ab Posts: 8,342

    About masking pets, if one has a decent 'basket muzzle' for their dog, a mask can be placed around the outside of this basket -- didn't seem to bother my pup at all. {the muzzle yes, the mask no}. Such a thing does not provide tight coverage though so may be better than nothing but not by much.

  • GUnit111GUnit111 Posts: 5
    edited June 2023

    WendyLuvsCatz said:

    feel for you all and sending condolences from downunder where we also have our share of bushfires heart

    Downunder crews are currently working on forest fires in Alberta Canada; only 15Km from my home. Evacuated once already and again today there is lots of messaging to be ready for another evacuation.

    Nothing but gratitude for the international firefighters (Australia, South Africa, Oragon State, & Washington State) that have left their homes to help save mine!

    Edit: Add South Africa to the international list.

    Post edited by GUnit111 on
  • vonHobovonHobo Posts: 1,682
    edited June 2023

    I live in western PA and we had an AQI of 138 two days ago, which by the way is the highest I have ever seen in my area of the country. But of course that number seems like heaven compared to what DC and NY are experiencing, with AQIs in the 500's. I can't even imagine that... and I lived in DC for 10 years. It's hot and muggy in the summer in DC as is, without adding smoke and additional haze!

    No haze to report in my area, but finally noticing a smell of slight smoke in the air here today, June 9, in the late hours, as I am typing this. 

    I've always wanted to move to California, but decided against it recently for various reasons, including the air quality with the wildfires out there. And low and behold, it's happening here now. I have no idea where to move at this point... I don't want to stay in Western PA but I don't see any good options. The Pittsburgh metro area is free from natural disasters for the most part and the prices are relatively affordable compared to a lot of other cities. I have also lived in Florida, but I think I will pass on that state. Too much politics down there with the banning of just about everything. It's not the Florida I remember.

    Does anyone have any suggestions on really nice places to retire?

     

    Post edited by vonHobo on
  • PerttiAPerttiA Posts: 10,024

    von Hobo said:

    I live in western PA and we had an AQI of 138 two days ago, which by the way is the highest I have ever seen in my area of the country. But of course that number seems like heaven compared to what DC and NY are experiencing, with AQIs in the 500's. I can't even imagine that... and I lived in DC for 10 years. It's hot and muggy in the summer in DC as is, without adding smoke and additional haze!

    No haze to report in my area, but finally noticing a smell of slight smoke in the air here today, June 9, in the late hours, as I am typing this. 

    I've always wanted to move to California, but decided against it recently for various reasons, including the air quality with the wildfires out there. And low and behold, it's happening here now. I have no idea where to move at this point... I don't want to stay in Western PA but I don't see any good options. The Pittsburgh metro area is free from natural disasters for the most part and the prices are relatively affordable compared to a lot of other cities. I have also lived in Florida, but I think I will pass on that state. Too much politics down there with the banning of just about everything. It's not the Florida I remember.

    Does anyone have any suggestions on really nice places to retire?

    We don't have wildfires either. 

  • namffuaknamffuak Posts: 4,146

    Middlebury, IN - about 40 miles East of South Bend and 8 miles South of the Michigan state line; AQI of 85, down from 108 earlier today. No haze, I can smell smoke -- but I'm in a rural, predominately Amish area where wood-burning stoves are frequently used for heat and burning yard waste is common, so the smoke I smell could easily be local.

  • AnotherUserNameAnotherUserName Posts: 2,727

    Eat, drink, and be merry...

  • Catherine3678ab said:

    About masking pets, if one has a decent 'basket muzzle' for their dog, a mask can be placed around the outside of this basket -- didn't seem to bother my pup at all. {the muzzle yes, the mask no}. Such a thing does not provide tight coverage though so may be better than nothing but not by much.

    As a  DVM ( recently retired)  I can assure folks that masking a pet won't do do anything except cause them stress making any breathing issues worse. In the event of an air quality alert, the best thing pet owners can do is keep the pets indoors with the windows shut. Dogs should only go out for short trips on a leash to eliminate.  Cats and birds should stay indoors until the air clears.

    Ventilation and filtration of the indoor air are the best strategies for inside.  It might mean changing air filters inside the home more frequently and/or upgrading to higher quality filters. 
     

  • McGyverMcGyver Posts: 7,051
    edited June 2023

    There are a lot of problems with masking pets... back in the early 90s the company (model making/prototyping shop) I worked at took on a flakey short lived project to help someone design some sort of canine respirator... the intentions were good, the fellow who's idea it was wanted to create it for military/rescue/search and recovery dogs... he had some good ideas, but even when you focus on a particular breed, and a highly trained animal, the problem is that snouts shapes vary greatly and creating a reasonable seal against fur is literally impossible (with the exception of shaving or application of a gel barrier)... (but that's only the highest profile of the sixty billion other problems involved)... not to mention that the only place it makes any sense is a military canine against poison gas, (rescue dog with a mask is pretty much useless unless it reads maps)... realistically the only reason we took the project was the fellow was a friend of the owner's family and the owner wanted to legitimately say he tried, he didn't want the guy wasting money trying to develop something that wouldn't really make sense(owner didn't take payment, but paid us for our efforts).  
    Technically, nowadays it might be possible to make an individually fit muzzle, designed for an individual dog using a scanner and 3D printing, but there are still so many other issues that doesn't come close to addressing.

    On a separate note, cats however will happily wear a mask provided it's a full Darth Vader outfit complete with miniature light saber... maybe something evil bounty hunter or something that's generally menacing and has built in weapons... but something Halo-like is usually rejected as too tame and you are going to bleed a lot if you try.

    Forget pet giraffes because it's too hard to do the fitting on a ladder and while Rhinoceros are actually pretty accommodating, it's extremely expensive to replace the cartridges or filters, badgers and alligators are hit and miss, kangaroos will kick the hell out of you if you even think of putting a mask on them and hamsters usually find a way of hanging themselves on their wheel pretty much instantly.

    In general even with humans, it's hard to get a good seal on a respirator and you technically (at least in a professional application) need a fitting and training to wear a respirator properly... the main problem is anywhere air bypasses the skin to mask seal, it renders the whole thing useless.

    Post edited by McGyver on
  • LeatherGryphonLeatherGryphon Posts: 11,512
    edited June 2023

    No smoke here this morning;yes

    Also, It's hard to get a seal on anything.  They prefer being in the water, unless tempted with fish.indecision  

    Post edited by LeatherGryphon on
  • GordigGordig Posts: 10,060

    I'm in Spokane for the weekend, and we're starting to see a bit of smoke. 

  • melaniemelanie Posts: 790

    Back in 1980, when Mt. St. Helens erupted, we had thick ash sprinkling down all over Portland. It got so bad, you could scoop it up and keep little baggies of it. That was awful! I was just coming out of watching an ice show and waiting for a bus when I noticed all the little ash particles falling all around me.

  • hacsarthacsart Posts: 2,025

    on pet masks, in a similar vein - local artist/metalsmith does these.. (and mouse armours, too)

    Video: Sutton Hoo Cat Helmet

  • Catherine3678abCatherine3678ab Posts: 8,342

    semperequstri said:

    Catherine3678ab said:

    About masking pets, if one has a decent 'basket muzzle' for their dog, a mask can be placed around the outside of this basket -- didn't seem to bother my pup at all. {the muzzle yes, the mask no}. Such a thing does not provide tight coverage though so may be better than nothing but not by much.

    As a  DVM ( recently retired)  I can assure folks that masking a pet won't do do anything except cause them stress making any breathing issues worse. In the event of an air quality alert, the best thing pet owners can do is keep the pets indoors with the windows shut. Dogs should only go out for short trips on a leash to eliminate.  Cats and birds should stay indoors until the air clears.

    Ventilation and filtration of the indoor air are the best strategies for inside.  It might mean changing air filters inside the home more frequently and/or upgrading to higher quality filters. 
     

    Rest assured, my little pet was not stressed by this temporary mask. It was to help lighten the mood at the shopping mall and it worked. Sarah put some smiles on faces and she loved the attention.

    Some breeds of dogs cannot be masked nor muzzled without dire consequences.

    And a great thing about indoor dogs, is that they can use their pee pads and Sarah did not get walked during the bad smokey days. Thankfully Friday was smoke free and she got to enjoy her trip to the Mall.

  • Catherine3678abCatherine3678ab Posts: 8,342

    hacsart said:

    on pet masks, in a similar vein - local artist/metalsmith does these.. (and mouse armours, too)

    Video: Sutton Hoo Cat Helmet

    Oh that is cute, don't know a cat that would wear it ... do know a few that the 'body armour' he's making next, would need to be for the person not the cat lol ...

  • RawArtRawArt Posts: 5,893

    winds changed, so today is much clearer than its been all week...so can safely cut the grass  (not sure that is a win or not)

     

  • IvyIvy Posts: 7,165
    edited June 2023

    well I tried a number of times & finely got to upload images to daz forum

     I had took pictures of the smokey skies in Tennessee on June 5th  taken with a Mavic3 drone at 400 feet in NE Tennessee   VLOS was about 1000 meters

    below is a link to a live panoramic image of the same skies after they had cleared. tobad I couldn't upload the others

     June7th . 2 days after the smoke cleared  https://panoraven.com/en/slider/U6QfLLfcQY

     

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    Post edited by Ivy on
  • IvyIvy Posts: 7,165
    edited June 2023

    yay i finely got the pictures to upload ..lol

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    Post edited by Ivy on
  • Faeryl WomynFaeryl Womyn Posts: 3,628

    What's really going to get you twisted, a couple days ago the news stated 7 people were arrested in Alberta and Quebec, with possibly more, for deliberatly setting some of those fires.

  • McGyverMcGyver Posts: 7,051

    I took some very orange sky photos, but the forum hamster wouldn't upload them... but that was several days ago and it's been clearish since then.

  • FirstBastionFirstBastion Posts: 7,762

    It has now rained for almost 24 hours straight and cleared the air of all the particles floating around.  Hopefully put out some fires too.

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