# 2021 US West drought and wildfire thread
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 10, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991 "2021-06-10T18:17:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 12
### Author:  [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2021, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/221 "2021-08-18T17:36:35Z")
This is the fire and smoke map. Have no idea of how now compares to previous years but the map shocked me. Fires everywhere out west, and even into Montana and the Northern Plains.
[https://fire.airnow.gov/](https://fire.airnow.gov/)
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### Author:  [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2021, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/222 "2021-08-19T05:14:18Z")
> [@asahi](#):
>
> This is the fire and smoke map. Have no idea of how now compares to previous years but the map shocked me. Fires everywhere out west, and even into Montana and the Northern Plains.
I can tell you that Colorado has had WAY more smoke this year from out-of-state fires. It’s normal for us to get some, but this year has been off the charts compared to normal.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2021, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/223 "2021-08-22T05:05:35Z")
FFS… 😠
How far east are we considering West now?
> **[Boundary Waters wilderness in Minnesota closed due to fire](https://apnews.com/article/europe-fires-environment-and-nature-minnesota-dc4c4cbcb76ea026956df39238b8a802)**
>
> FINLAND, Minn. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service on Saturday closed the popular Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota as the largest active wildfire in the state threatens the 1-million-acre property.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/224 "2021-08-24T14:27:25Z")
School’s out:
> **[Smoke from California wildfires closes Reno schools again](https://apnews.com/article/health-fires-environment-and-nature-education-california-5bc5daaa905a5e4d6dd2b0e9cce47619)**
>
> RENO, Nev. (AP) — Schools in the Reno area of northern Nevada were closed Tuesday for a second straight day as smoke from massive wildfires burning in neighboring California caused hazardous air quality.
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### Author:  [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/225 "2021-08-24T14:38:46Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> FFS… 😠
>
> How far east are we considering West now?
> [Boundary Waters wilderness in Minnesota closed due to fire | AP News](https://apnews.com/article/europe-fires-environment-and-nature-minnesota-dc4c4cbcb76ea026956df39238b8a802)
I live about 3 hours away from this fire. Yesterday we had clear skies but overnight…WOW. I woke up this morning to the inside of my house smelling like a bonfire and hazy skies. I took the dogs out for our morning walk and had to cut it short. The air quality was really affecting my breathing. My eyes are still kind of burning. We have rain today, hopefully, that will help a little.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/226 "2021-08-25T04:06:11Z")
I can tell you that Las Vegas looks a lot like these pics from Lake Tahoe; I can’t really see any of the mountains that ring the valley I live in.
> **[Pristine Lake Tahoe shrouded in smoke from threatening fire](https://apnews.com/article/business-fires-environment-and-nature-lakes-california-4a9606f6772cfb4e7b7f1a4e03d43d42)**
>
> SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — Ash rained down on Lake Tahoe on Tuesday and thick yellow smoke blotted out views of the mountains rimming its pristine blue waters as a massive wildfire threatened the alpine vacation spot on the California-Nevada...
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### Author:  [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2021, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/227 "2021-08-30T02:40:48Z")
The Caldor fire continues to grow and there are now evacuations in South Lake Tahoe.
CalFire page on the fire
> **[Caldor Fire Incident Report](https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2021/8/14/caldor-fire/)**
>
> The Caldor Fire started August 14, 2021 near Little Mountain, south of Pollock Pines in El Dorado County.
News article
> **[Update: Caldor Fire destroys cabins, prompts new evacuations near South Lake...](https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article253830283.html)**
>
> Incoming winds could affect the fight against the blaze that began Aug. 14.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/228 "2021-08-31T13:38:51Z")
All of South Lake Tahoe has been told to evacuate and neighboring communities in Nevada have been warned to be ready to flee:
> **[High winds threaten to whip up flames approaching Lake Tahoe](https://apnews.com/article/fires-environment-and-nature-california-evacuations-b61cea7e0a57bc1670f502a980f4deda)**
>
> SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — A day after an explosive wildfire emptied a resort city at the southern tip of Lake Tahoe, a huge firefighting force braced for strong winds Tuesday as some residents in neighboring Nevada were ordered to evacuate.
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### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/229 "2021-09-01T03:12:02Z")
This guy here should be named Nero:
> **[A Lake Tahoe resident played the violin as his family sat at standstill in...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/31/us/lake-tahoe-resident-stops-to-play-the-violin-in-evacuation-traffic-trnd/index.html)**
>
> An artist from Lake Tahoe played music while on the road to put the anxiety of evacuating from the Caldor Fire behind him, if only for a moment.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/230 "2021-09-01T05:49:59Z")
Shit is real now. Might lose my family home that I grew up in. Looking at the map, and knowing the wind, not sure how this can be stopped. Unthinkable. South Lake Tahoe wiped out by fire.
I got nothing that I can’t do without up there, oh, except the fucking house.
The neighborhood is now at evacuation status.
I’m a couple dozen miles away, and in no danger, but shit! Unthinkable. All that water, and …
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### Author:  [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/231 "2021-09-01T09:42:44Z")
It is just awful. Sorry about the danger to your family home Gato. I hope things will turn around and the town can be saved.
Everything outside my house is so dirty with ash, I can’t hardly stand it, but I don’t want to use up a bunch of water to clean it.
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/232 "2021-09-01T19:00:30Z")
I am so sorry. At least you had time to get your family and pets out.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/233 "2021-09-01T19:13:32Z")
I don’t live there. But it’s the family house that I grew up in. I use it in winters for skiing. There are some old family relics and some antiques there, but not much else. Of course the furniture is priceless! Original hardwood stuff from the 60’s. The Real Deal. Very high quality stuff.
I don’t think the house is gonna burn. The fire seems to up in the hills, and they are keeping it off the homes, for the most part.
Looking at the map, it might keep going and get really close, however.
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### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/234 "2021-09-05T23:25:45Z")
Oh joy. New fire 33 miles from me, the Bridge fire in Auburn. So far about 40 acres.
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2021, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/235 "2021-09-06T01:32:44Z")
AQI has been in the unhealthy range for several days despite assurances every night that it will abate. Currently “moderate” but smells bad and still hazy.
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### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/236 "2021-09-06T01:51:02Z")
Bridge Fire is now over 200 acres, 0% containment.
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2021, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/237 "2021-09-06T02:11:04Z")
Sorry.
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### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2021, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/238 "2021-09-06T07:58:41Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#):
>
> Original hardwood stuff from the 60’s.
I was checking for updates and remembered this part. I’m from the 50’s. If you call ME an antique I’ll feed all of your dogs peanut butter.
How’s it looking for your place? Tahoe looks very sad and forlorn now.
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### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/239 "2021-09-06T15:37:39Z")
Start saying goodbye to trout now:
> **[Prized trout streams shrink as heat, drought grip US West](https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-business-environment-and-nature-droughts-science--fb247eb1eb5f2889afcbe6c3456c675d)**
>
> SARATOGA, Wyo. (AP) — The North Platte River in southern Wyoming has been so low in places lately that a toddler could easily wade across and thick mats of olive-green algae grow in the lazy current.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2021-us-west-drought-and-wildfire-thread/943991/240 "2021-09-06T17:02:17Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> How’s it looking for your place? Tahoe looks very sad and forlorn now.
Well, I guess it’s okay. I watched the news this morning for an update, and they didn’t say a freakin’ word about it! Only talked about the goddamn rib cook-off in Reno. Maybe the 11 am report.
So I guess no news is good news.
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