Where I live, over forty thousand people have been evacuated from their homes, as a raging inferno is tearing through the forest around their communities.
I'm not going to try to write about this experience; I can't imagine trying to speak for those going through such a terrifying and dangerous experience. If you do a quick search for BC wildfires, you'll find more than enough information to catch you up with what's happening here — but I will share this photo with you, taken by a friend just before she left her home for the last time.
The smoke is so thick and swirling, it can be seen from from space.
You can use NASAs world viewer to watch the miasma form and move across the province towards the water. Even in Vancouver, the air quality is decreasing, as is visibility.
So I needed to see that it could be okay again.
Two weeks ago, before the fires got too out of control, I hiked to a patch of forest that was ravaged by an intense burn in 2015... and, it's coming back. There are dark, crisp, charred patches being overtaken by new growth. There are spider-like, dying trees being gently held up by those climbing back to life. It's a poor offering, but I feel as though these photos show that there is still the chance for beauty and growth, even with devastating scars; a bit of hope. It won't stop these people's worlds from being shattered... but they are out — they are safe, they are alive, and they will start again.
This last photo was taken facing the direction of the oncoming fires. A week after I was there, this area was evacuated as well.
Today, I woke up to post this to the sound of gentle rain. Hopefully, it will help the efforts to put the fires out... and nourish all of the new growth that will come — in time — to help blend away the scars left behind.
All of these photos are my own, taken on my travels all over this pretty blue marble of ours. I hope you like them. 🌶️
