|
07 Jul 02 - 03:48 PM (#743944) Subject: Canada is Smokin'! From: Jerry Rasmussen I just went out in my backyard, and inhaled some Canadian smoke. At least, that's what I've been told. The last couple of days, it looks like there's a forest fire just over the hill, not the border. And I'm done here in southern Connecticut, not that far from New York City. For now at least, the Appalachians look like the Smoky Mountains. It makes me wonder, how are our Candian friends doin' up there? If it's this smokey down here, what is it like in Toronto and Montreal? I never was much for Catfish. Even smoked.
Hope you're all o.k. up there..:-) Jerry |
|
07 Jul 02 - 04:11 PM (#743950) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: RichM I'm in Ottawa--I've been getting a whiff of smoke occasionally for the last few days...I assumed it was a neighbour's BBQ...but it's forest fire smoke, drifting south from northern Quebec. It's very visible in the daytime, looks like smog or haze This morning was the first time ever that the weather forecast included a warning about smoke. :( Rich McCarthy |
|
07 Jul 02 - 04:41 PM (#743963) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Here in western Canada, summer winds are mostly from the SW, so we get the smoke from the US fires in the western states. Bad everywhere, I guess. |
|
07 Jul 02 - 05:03 PM (#743976) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: CarolC There's been a fire problem in Labrador as well. People have been evacuated from some of the towns there in the last several days. |
|
07 Jul 02 - 05:33 PM (#743991) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: TeriLu Saratoga Springs, NY also has had hazy, yellow skies, with the occasional smell of burning wood the last couple of days - just found out today it was Canada burning. What's going on? Arsonist copy cats? How sick is that? ): |
|
07 Jul 02 - 07:01 PM (#744027) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: Clinton Hammond Heh... go to Quebec... there they smoke like it's a CURE for cancer... ;-)
|
|
07 Jul 02 - 08:15 PM (#744063) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: Donuel Here in Washington DC the sun at noon was a pinkish disk so faint you could look directly at it. Overcast beneath thick grey formless clouds there is a yellow green cast to the landscape. It is said the smoke will persist through the night. It makes me wonder what the sky would look like if a nuclear device exploded 900 miles away. |
|
07 Jul 02 - 10:25 PM (#744130) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: The Pooka Central Connecticut, totally smoked. (Jerry R., where are you? Down in the "panhandle?") Went out with son to see what we thought would be a weird sunset; saw none at all. Fire & Ice -- looks like fire at the moment. |
|
07 Jul 02 - 10:27 PM (#744131) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: Little Hawk I hope we never find out what that looks like. There was lots of smoke in the air around Lindsay, Ontario on Saturday...it looked like a fine mist as you might get in extremely damp weather, but it was smoke. Today it seemed to have cleared up. - LH |
|
07 Jul 02 - 10:34 PM (#744135) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: Jerry Rasmussen Pookah: I'm down in Derby (which means zero to everyone.) This evening, my wife and drove up to Waterbury (which means zero to everyone but Pookah... those not named Pookah may go to the next message) The smoke was really thick in Waterbury... much thicker than where we live (on top of a hill.) I could feel the smoke on the back of my throat and ended up coughing frequently. If it's this bad, a thousand miles away from the fires, I figure it must be Hell in Toronto. Saw some footage taken in Toronto on the evening news and it looked like the old Jack The Ripper sets in Foggy London Town. Supposed to move out of here with the wind shifting overnight. Then Maine is supposed to get it. Look out the window, Kendall!
This reminds me of the thread about all the fires in Australia. Jerry |
|
07 Jul 02 - 11:02 PM (#744145) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: CamiSu We're getting it here as well, though, oddly, it is not as bad until today. What I want to know is, why aren't we hearing news about this? We hear about Colorado and Arizona. Is NPR being myopic and ignoring this one because it's in Canada? How big is it? |
|
08 Jul 02 - 12:08 AM (#744177) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: CarolC I've been getting my news about the fires from the CBC on-line, CamiSu. You can get it here. |
|
08 Jul 02 - 10:42 AM (#744348) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: InOBU Haze like fog Sunday morning in New York City, looked like impending rain on Sat. Drove up to Easton, near Albany on Sunday, got a sore throat from the smoke! Geeze guys, pour some Molsen's on the fire (drink Labbatts while ya do!) Cheers Larry |
|
08 Jul 02 - 11:22 AM (#744359) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: sian, west wales My mother says dittos the bar-b-que remark. She's in the Niagara Penninsula, just 20 miles west of Buffalo, so I'm surprised it isn't worse for her. sian |
|
08 Jul 02 - 11:23 AM (#744360) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: SharonA Yep, it's been hazy here in southeastern Pennsylvania as well (Philadelphia area). It started Saturday afternoon and it hasn't cleared off completely yet, even though the prevailing winds are supposed to have shifted. Oddly, though, the TV and radio weather forecasts did not issue any warnings, or advisories to those of us with respiratory problems to stay indoors, until Sunday evening. The reason, they said, was that the smoke had stayed in the upper atmosphere until a second weather front forced it toward the ground. According to the US news, there are supposed to be some 85 forest fires in Quebec responsible for this. Eighty-five – thassalotta fire. What the heck is happening up there – drought, or arson, or some of each? |
|
08 Jul 02 - 11:43 AM (#744373) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: RichM Drought is the cause; The forested area of Quebec is largely coniferous, meaning very flammable when dry. The forested area is probably as big as the entire state of Texas---and right now it's very dry! Rich McCarthy |
|
08 Jul 02 - 11:47 AM (#744375) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: katlaughing Wildfires in Quebec cast pall By ANDRÉ PICARD From Monday's Globe and Mail Montreal — Dozens of forest fires raged in Quebec's northern region Sunday, causing health risks, disrupting air travel, devastating some of the province's richest forest stocks and sending a smoky haze over wide areas of eastern North America. Last night Montreal's public health officials issued an air quality warning, saying that the elderly, young children and those with asthma were particularly at risk and that everyone should keep outdoor activities to a minimum until the haze clears from the fires burning 1,000 kilometres north. The Cree villages of Nemaska and Chisasibi were the only populated areas threatened by the flames. All 500 residents of Nemaska have moved out and almost 150 residents of Chisasibi have left after being sickened by the smoke. On Sunday, there were 44 fires burning in Quebec, 11 of them out of control. The province's forest fire protection service said much of the smoke that covered most of Quebec, parts of Ontario and the northeastern United States, stretching as far south as Washington, D.C., came from a fire burning since July 2 in the region of Nemiscau, near James Bay. That fire prompted the evacuation of the villages and at times threatened the power grid, as much of the province's power is generated in the James Bay area. The relentless blanket of smoke also covered parts of New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts, posing a health risk to people with pulmonary problems, in particular those with asthma. It left a number of Ontario's hospital emergency rooms overwhelmed. New York and Pennsylvania advised residents with respiratory and heart conditions to stay indoors. The New York alert was statewide. Pennsylvania's covered 20 counties. In Montreal, Claude Gagnon, a chemist with the city, said that fine particles in the air were measured at a level of 120 micrograms per cubic metre across the island of Montreal on Sunday, the highest level on record. The upper limit of acceptability is 60 micrograms per cubic meter. Chantal Drapeau, spokeswoman for the provincial forest-firefighting service, said some of the fires are so hot that firefighters are powerless against them. "The heat is so intense that water bombers are useless. They drop their load and the water evaporates in the air before it even hits the ground," she said. Ms. Drapeau said the thick smoke is also impeding firefighting efforts. Visibility is so poor that most of the fire service planes and helicopters have been grounded. That means crews can't be flown to sites. Air travel has also been affected, with small planes grounded as far away as Toronto because the smoke has reduced visibility. Some of the smaller fires are also linking up and creating far bigger burns, Ms. Drapeau said. "At this point, we really need a helping hand from Mother Nature, but that doesn't seem imminent," she said. The vast majority of the fires are burning north of the Manicouagan River, on Quebec's North Shore, up to Lake Mistassini, in the James Bay region. Warm, dry weather is forecast for northern Quebec for the next few days, which will add to firefighting woes. But winds are expected to shift, as early as Monday, lifting the haze over southern cities. Although the Nemiscau fire was the most noticeable of those burning in northern Quebec, it was not the most severe. A fire north of Lac St-Jean — between the Manicouagan Reservoir and Mistassini River — has burned about 650 square kilometres of forest and is considered out of control, one of the fires in the area with such a designation. "Those are fires we basically have to leave alone for the meantime," said Eric Santerre of the provincial forest fire protection service, noting the smoke is too thick for planes to travel through it. "We need rain to bring down the amount of smoke before we can go in." So far this year, 68,078 hectares of forest have burned in Quebec, and there have been 353 fires. Almost all have been caused by lightning. Because of a very dry winter and spring, the area destroyed by blazes is much larger than usual. For the past five years, the average area burned after the first week of July has been just over 25,000 hectares. There are 500 firefighters working to put out the fires. A fire ban has been in effect since July 4 in nearly every region of Quebec north of the St. Lawrence River. |
|
08 Jul 02 - 12:09 PM (#744384) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: Peter T. There are always huge fires in Quebec and Northern Ontario during the summer, but this year is particularly bad because of drought conditions (GLOBAL WARMING!!). There are a series of fires that are completely out of control, they are not even fighting them, it would be a waste of time. The weather is supposed to shift, which will be bringing us here in Toronto (and in NE U.S.) more of the crappy air from Ohio, and less of the crappy air from Quebec. You can't win. yours, Peter T. |
|
08 Jul 02 - 12:50 PM (#744419) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Woke yesterday to the strangest pall in the sky, with a red disc of sun. I had a feeling of foreboding that something bad was happening; in my new rural life we have no cable or newspaper, so I got on the web (yup- still got that!)and the weatherunderground page told me about the fires! Later in the day I could smell the smoke and see the brown haze of what looked like smog. My daughter and I were tired and headachy all day. How much worse for those who live closer! Today is bright and sunny, but the wind is supposed to shift back later in the week. Take care, you northern cousins! |
|
08 Jul 02 - 02:21 PM (#744471) Subject: HEY JOE OFFER! From: GUEST,censored in Cincinnati Hey Joe Offer! When I cut and pasted an article into another thread you deleted it. You said it was against the rules to cut and paste articles from outside sources. So how come katlaughing is allowed to cut and paste articles from on-line newspaper sites? Does katlaughing have some sort of exemption that puts her above the rules that you enforce on other people? I guess there is a Mudcat inner clique after all. |
|
08 Jul 02 - 03:06 PM (#744515) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: Jerry Rasmussen Well, what about that... an irritated guest even on this thread... Thanks for posting it, Kat. And Guest... you must realize now that Kats do what they want to do, when they want to do it. It's part of the privilege of being a cat.:-) Jerry |
|
08 Jul 02 - 03:07 PM (#744516) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: The Pooka Central CT - seems clearer now. Jerry Rasmussen - ahh damn, I think you'd told me before you're in Derby, and then I forgot! Too many senior moments, here. Blame Canada, sez I. :) Derby most certainly does *not* mean Zero, sir!...That's Ansonia....HAHAHAHA uhh whoops! (But as for me, give me Seymour or give me Death) |
|
09 Jul 02 - 12:28 AM (#744856) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: kendall When the great forest fire of 1947 went through my home town, it did 3 million dollars worth of improvements. Seriously, I sure hope no one is killed. |
|
09 Jul 02 - 08:24 AM (#745028) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: GUEST Q: Does smoking really cause cancer? A: It is estimated that 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. Smoking postmenopausal women increase their risk of breast cancer risk by 60%. Smoking is also a causal factor in the development of throat, mouth, bladder, kidney, cervix and pancreatic cancer. Q: What is the survival rate for lung cancer? A: Less than 15% over five years. The problem is that it is a silent disease, producing few or no symptoms until it is too far advanced to be treated successfully. Thus, it is often diagnosed too late. Fortunately, lung cancer is largely preventable by not smoking. Q: Why doesn't everyone who smokes get lung cancer? A: Although 10% to 15% of smokers die of lung cancer, many others die of heart attacks. However, because there are many variables involved in terms of genetics, biology, and environment, everyone does not react the same. But one's chances of developing lung cancer greatly increase if one smokes. Q: What if you don't inhale? A: Despite what ex-President Clinton thinks, not inhaling does not amount to not harming. All smokers, whether or not they inhale, use pipes, cigars or light cigarettes, have increased risk of lip, mouth, tongue and lung cancer due to either first or second hand smoke. Q: Are there any other lung diseases caused by smoking ? A: Smoking is a major cause of a chronic, obstructive lung disease called emphysema, which gradually destroys breathing capacity. Over 10,000 Americans are crippled or killed by emphysema each year. Q: Is the heart affected by smoking? A: It definitely appears so. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, smoking is linked to 30% of the deaths (which amounts to 54,000/year) due heart disease and stroke. Q: How role does oral contraceptives have in heart disease? A: Although women who use oral contraceptives have twice the risk of heart attack, smoking women who use birth control pills have ten times the risk of heart attack. Q: What causes "Smoker's Cough"? A: Cilia, tiny hairlike structures lining the airways, expel foreign particles from the lungs. The irritants in smoke stimulate the protective mechanisms of the airways and lungs, causing coughing. However, when cilia are repeatedly exposed to smoke over a long period of time, their action is permanently destroyed. This allows the lungs to become far more vulnerable to the harmful effects of smoking. Q: What other risks are there from smoking? A: Smoking is the primary cause of drug interactions. This means that smoking alters the effects of medications, possibly rendering them ineffective. This may also result in significantly inaccurate diagnostic test results in smokers. Q: Why should you worry about smoking when drugs, alcohol and violence seem like greater threats? A: The combined fatalities due to drugs, alcohol, AIDS, murder, car accidents and suicides still don't exceed the number of smoking related deaths due to cancer and heart disease. Q: Is there any risk to smoking occasionally? A: Every time you smoke or are exposed to second hand smoke, you are exposed to some risk. Light smokers also show lung damage on autopsy. Inevitably, light smokers become heavier smokers. In any case, whether it's sooner or later, the total toxic burden born by the body over time will eventually manifest itself in increased illness, disease or premature death. Q: How long does it take for smoking to cause damage? A: It's instantaneous. As soon as the smoke makes contact with living tissue, it attacks it and continues to do so wherever it or it's breakdown products go. Q: What can be done to prevent cancer? A: More than 70% of all cancers may be related to the lifestyle choices we make. Smoking and diet are the two greatest determinants of new cases of cancer. Prevention and early detection give us the best chance of controlling cancer. Q: Is there any way to prevent permanent damage from smoking? A: Yes. If the smoker stops before the onset of irreversible heart and circulatory disease, the body begins to repair itself.
|
|
09 Jul 02 - 08:43 AM (#745039) Subject: RE: BS: Canada is Smokin'! From: VoxFox Where I am in New Brunswick they were giving smog warnings to the aged and children to stay indoors as the smoke from Quebec was pretty heavy. It rained last night here so I hope today will be better. Keep on the sunny side... :o) VF |