The wind shifted direction today and Athens had less smoke than earlier this week, although you could see the smoky cloud band to the northeast. Other areas were getting the smoke instead. Here in Athens we will have a reprieve for a day or so as the winds turn to come from the south ahead of the cold front that is moving through our region this weekend. But after the front, which will be mostly dry, the winds will come from the north again and the smoke will resume. And the gusty winds that come as the front passes may expand the fires that are causing the smoke.
There have been many stories this week about the fires and the bad air quality from the smoke particles. Here is a sample of the most interesting:
The WunderBlog sets the fires in context by looking at the drought and the strings of dry and hot weather we have had across the region for the last 2-3 months here.
The Southeast Farm Press reported here that the fires now cover over 80,000 acres across the Southeast. In North Carolina alone over 40,000 acres are affected. Several of the fires were set by arson but many others were set by illegal burning, tossed cigarettes, or sparks from trailer chains.
National Public Radio described some of the evacuations that moved people out of harms’ way before their houses were destroyed in their story here. Arson was the cause of some of these blazes as well, compounded by the exceptional drought.
The Only In Your State blog described the fire in North Carolina as the state’s “Worst Ever” with some spectacular photos by Cathy Anderson and others.
The WunderBlog followed up on their earlier story with an update describing the more than 30 large fires that remain uncontrolled and how the smoke from those fires is causing significant health problems for older adults and children in the smokiest areas. Because of the smoke, the Gainesville Times noted here that the Georgia EPD had issued a Code Red air quality alert.
Jeff Martin of the Associated Press wrote a story describing some of the human costs of the fire and the stories that are coming out of the affected areas. Here is the story in Online Athens.
And finally, Brad Haire paints a pensive word picture of the dry and dusty region that has been affected by the exceptional drought and complete lack of rainfall and its impacts on agriculture and fire in the region. You can read it in the Southeast Farm Press here.
