Since this abnormally early and widespread wildfire season broke out first in Alberta, then over the entire country, with nine provinces and two territories all in the throes of wildfires, Canada has asked for and welcomed the presence of firefighters from a wide range of countries; France, Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica, United States, South Africa, and more. Hundreds of firefighters have arrived in Canada from countries whose own wildfire seasons have not yet created domestic emergencies, to give aid to this country in extinguishing those fires that can be controlled.

 

 

The fires in Alberta and in British Columbia have somewhat diminished in number though they're still in the hundreds with fifty percent uncontrolled, requiring hard, dedicated work on the part of fire crews to keep communities safe, while having to inform residents in others that because of imminent fire danger they must evacuate. It is not a happy time to be living in isolated forested areas. As an exception, Nova Scotia's capital, Halifax, has seen wildfires threaten the security of homes in suburban areas not far from the city.

 

Although Ontario has had to cope with its own outbreak of wildfires, it is in northern Quebec where out-of-control wildfires have sent a heavy pall of smoke and accompanying windborne particulate matter over the eastern seaboard of the United States, now and for the past several weeks grappling with smoke-fog and dangerously poor air quality that is certain to affect the lungs of people already health- compromised, not to mention otherwise healthy people.

 

In the first week of the fires' breakout we were very conscious of the acrid odour of burning forests, and we could readily see a haze, as well as the sky and sun bearing bright orange-yellow shades as a result of atmospheric smoke. Then our atmosphere appeared to clear, the burning odour no longer in evidence, much less any haze; wind had shifted all that away from us, even though we were closer to the source of the fires than areas across the U.S. now steeped in particulate matter.

 

Now, our air quality has begun to suffer once again; unhealthy air conditions have returned, as has that acrid odour. Not as evident as elsewhere, not yet, but pollution as a result of the forest fires is impacting us once again. Advice from Environment Canada is to spend as little time out-of-doors as possible. But this morning was warm and comfortable, the sun was out, a cooling breeze in evidence, an entirely beautiful late spring day. 

By mid-afternoon, it was still beautiful; we couldn't detect any haze, though we could smell the fires, and we decided we wouldn't be deterred from our usual hike through the forest trails with the puppies, even if we decided to take a shorter route. And that's just what we did. We took our time, leisurely trekking a shorter circuit, and enjoyed every minute of it.

 

And on our return sat in the garden awhile. We had stopped at the group mailbox to pick up our mail, and sitting in the shade in the garden, overlooked by the green canopy of our trees, our eyes entertained by the gorgeous display of flowers, just being there, sitting there, comfortable and relaxed was one of life's great pleasures. One temporarily denied to the dedicated men and women firefighters who risk their very lives in one of the most dangerous enterprises in the world, attempting to control nature's excesses.