Smoke and Fire in Southern California

The wind is finally dying down enough for firefighters to get a handle on the Southern California fires, but the effects will be felt long after the fires are extinguished. 1,436 homes have burnt to the ground (along with countless other structures), a million people have been evacuated (although many are returning home today), and Chargers Qualcomm stadium is filled with a crowd unlike any it’s ever seen.

Home damage is expected to top $1 billion, but the cost of the resulting health issues could amount to much more than that. The smoke from the fire has become a real threat… especially to children, the elderly, and those with asthma or other chronic respiratory diseases.

If you live in SoCal, the best thing to do is to stay inside.

1. Do not exercise outdoors.
2. If you must exercise, do it indoors and take it easy.
3. Keep the windows and doors of your home shut tight. If you have air conditioning, use it, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and change the filter regularly.
4. Air cleaners with HEPA filters can help if they’re the right size for the room and the filters are kept clean–avoid air cleaners that generate ozone.
5. In your vehicle, keep the A/C on recirculated air flow.
6. Avoid burning candles or wood and don’t use the vacuum (stirs up particulates).
7. If you have asthma, be diligent with your medication and don’t leave home without it.
8. A dust mask may or may not help–many particles will be small enough to squeeze through.

If you want to help those in need, you can donate to The Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, NVOAD, or the San Diego Humane Society (to help evacuate pets and other animals). You can also search the Network for Good to find other charitable organizations involved in the wildfire efforts.

Even though these fires are suspected to be arson, this should serve as a reminder to us all of just how dangerous and devastating fire can be. For those of us who recreate in the backcountry, this is a good time to review the rules of wildfire prevention. As always, if the fire danger is high in your area, do not attempt to light a campfire. Use a camping stove and battery-powered lanterns instead. Stoves are easier to deal with than campfires and are a much safer option…

Leave No Trace has this to say about campfires in the backcountry:

Minimize Campfire Impacts

Fires vs. Stoves

The use of campfires, once a necessity for cooking and warmth, is steeped in history and tradition. Some people would not think of camping without a campfire. Campfire building is also an important skill for every camper. Yet, the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of fires and an increasing demand for firewood. The development of lightweight efficient camp stoves has encouraged a shift away from the traditional fire. Stoves have become essential equipment for minimum-impact camping. They are fast, flexible, and eliminate firewood availability (and wildfires) as a concern in campsite selection. Stoves operate in almost any weather condition, and they Leave No Trace.

Should you build a fire?

* The most important consideration to be made when deciding to use a fire is the potential damage to the backcountry.
* What is the fire danger for the time of year and the location you have selected? Are there administrative restrictions from the agency that administers the area?
* Is there sufficient wood so its removal will not be noticeable?
* Does the harshness of alpine and desert growing conditions for trees and shrubs mean that the regeneration of wood sources cannot keep pace with the demand for firewood?
* Do group members possess the skill to build a campfire that will Leave No Trace?

Read the rest of this article at Leave No Trace.

Our thoughts & prayers are with everyone affected by these fires and everyone working to put them out.

Photo: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters via GoBlog