The haze from the forest fires is intense here.

@TheHorse (203720)
Walnut Creek, California
August 6, 2021 5:20pm CST
As I was driving home from work today I noticed that I could smell the smoke from the forest fires to the North and East of us in the Bay Area. Then I noticed that the haze was so thick I couldn't see Mt. Diablo, only a few miles from my house. The biggest fire, in the Northeastern part of the State, has burned over 300,000 acres, taking out at least one small town. It is said to be the third largest wildfire in California history. I am home from work and am going to visit the pool. It is hot here. I am not in any immediate danger. Do people worry about wildfires where you live?
23 people like this
26 responses
@florelway (23097)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
6 Aug 21
Isn't the smoke irritating to the nose. It could still be dangerous to your lungs
8 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Aug 21
The weather report said that air quality would be normal today.
5 people like this
• United States
6 Aug 21
It's been a smoke free summer here. The past few years have been horrible here. There is always a burn ban from June to October. Fire threats bring worries here every year. I hope you're safe and the fires burn out soon. It's a huge blaze from what I read. Be safe.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Aug 21
I feel safe in my suburban enclave. Do you encounter climate change deniers where you live?
3 people like this
• United States
7 Aug 21
@TheHorse No one I know denies Climate Change. It's been changing for 4.6B years. The issue of man made CC usually comes up. Some even believe people are good stewards of the planet.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Aug 21
@Vikingswest1 Yep. We're moving toward a "hot" and "high variability" time. How much of it is "man made" is entirely another issue.
3 people like this
@xander6464 (40698)
• Wapello, Iowa
7 Aug 21
I just heard that that fire is bigger than Los Angeles...It seems unreal to me. I don't know if you've ever been to LA but it seems like a big place. We don't have wildfires here, it's one of the advantages of not having forests. It wouldn't surprise me, though, if raging corn fires became a thing soon. They wouldn't do much damage but they could create a lot of smoke.
3 people like this
@sallypup (57305)
• Centralia, Washington
7 Aug 21
@xander6464 No forests where I live, either. I'm in a dry wheat land kind of country. Way too dry. Sagebrush and hay stacks easily can start burning here.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (40698)
• Wapello, Iowa
7 Aug 21
@sallypup We don't have to worry about sagebrush but we have plenty of hay, too.
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
7 Aug 21
That is scary. Wildfires are not an issue here fortunately, but we experienced many days of haze a few years back because of a wildfire that happened somewhere else. It was awful, the smell of smoke everywhere. We couldn't even open the windows.
3 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
7 Aug 21
@TheHorse I can imagine how irritating that would be. I hope the air quality gets better very very soon!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Aug 21
The smoke smell was "supposed" to rise today, so it wouldn't affect us at ground zero. But it was easy to smell by late afternoon.
3 people like this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
6 Aug 21
No, not really. They're rare here. There was severe flooding two weeks ago which destroyed a lot of houses.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Aug 21
What caused the flooding?
2 people like this
@xander6464 (40698)
• Wapello, Iowa
7 Aug 21
@TheHorse We have floods here, too. I guess it's God's way of saying, "Sorry for the lack of wildfires, so here's some flooding."
2 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Aug 21
@xander6464 I love the California suburbs.La la la la.
2 people like this
• Pakistan
7 Aug 21
It looks threatening.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Aug 21
One friend lost everything in the Paradise Fire a few years ago.
2 people like this
@prinzcy (32326)
• Malaysia
11 Aug 21
No wildfire here. That's quite worrying. I hope they'll able to do something.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Aug 21
They say they have the biggest one 30% controlled. I gather it's now the second biggest wildlfire in California history.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98526)
• India
7 Aug 21
Nope. That is the issue. Indians have fewer calamities, making it easier for us to relax and make babies increasing population that cannot be managed. If we were just a bit scared, may be our numbers would not be this high because we would have to RUN in emergencies with so many children.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (56253)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Aug 21
When we have dry summers, yes. We've had them so bad that things like Nascar were cancelled due to safety concerns. A few fires were close to home, which is scarry.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Aug 21
What kinds of timber are available to fires where you live? In California we have lots of pine trees in the hills and mountains.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
7 Aug 21
The wildfires are also burning Greece, Turkey and some Italian regions. Here in the north it rains all the time and in the south of Europe it is extremely hot and dry. We do nor worry about wildfires where I live.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
8 Aug 21
@TheHorse You should know that I never use voice technology, but I have an eye problem and I missed a typo, I know I need cataract surgery to my right eye, but I am scared to go go the hospital. I think it rained during the night, but I was too tired to notice, I worked hours in the garden yesterday and I had the better sleep in weeks.
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Aug 21
Hot and drive? Have you been using voice technology again? Shame on you! Just kidding. I have an IQ of over 100 and can derive meaning from context. We have not had rain in months.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (93556)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Aug 21
Hope it stays away from your area and goes out soon. We dont have any trouble here.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (72527)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Aug 21
No wildfires here, That is so awful I will put all concerned in my prayers and I hope those fires can get put out,
3 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Aug 21
Thank you. I will let you know if it gets worse here.
3 people like this
@sallypup (57305)
• Centralia, Washington
6 Aug 21
Its so dry and the wind keeps gusting. Scary. I see blue sky today and its been days since I could say that. I'm glad you are okay.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Aug 21
I am about to head to the pool. I smell smoke, but I can breathe OK right now.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (323673)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Aug 21
Is that a photo from your place? I would be seriously worried if it were. I realise it could be miles away but even so....
3 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
7 Aug 21
That is so scary. Right now, we are not concerned about wildfires but that could change. If it's not fires, then there are other elements to be alert to.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
7 Aug 21
Never lived near a fire zone nor prone to natural disasters. I am sure you know how to take care of yourself.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (84953)
• Bangalore, India
7 Aug 21
We keep hearing about wildfires in news these days. Stay safe. Here we do not have the danger of wildfire but yes monsoon is creating havoc in many regions. We have floods, cloudbursts, and landslides happening frequently.
1 person likes this
@S4mmyboy (3266)
• Mumbai, India
7 Aug 21
How far is this place from where you stay? We don't have forest fires here... The only calamities here are floods during rainy season and population...
1 person likes this
@iammary (101)
7 Aug 21
Though we are in a tropical country, we don't really experience wildfires here.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Aug 21
We barely had any wildfire, I do hope everyone is safe in those area. And please also take care, the smoke would be eye irritating while your driving it might cause an accident.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (203720)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Aug 21
It can cause eye irritation, but I am a defensive driver. I understand that half of those around me are "below average" drivers.
1 person likes this