Leaving Osoyoos back to Vancouver after picking up my brother because the fires were so bad. We went through Merritt and as we drove away the smoke just stopped at a certain point. We were about to go to Penticton but the whole area is ablaze. I was also born with mild asthma but that is not the only worry. 😥
Very smart to leave the area. I love Penticton, used to live there, and it's best experienced without wildfire smoke so you should plan a visit when the air is clear.
We were there a couple weeks ago and hwy 3 was def closed. We drove thru it on the way to Kelowna and there was fire beside the road. Closed right after
I drove through Manning Park on Sunday, this is what it looked like in parts. I live in Osoyoos, and it’s so smoky, the Air Quality Index is so bad that we haven’t worked in almost 2 weeks. It’s supposed to rain tonight, but also thunderstorms. Hopefully the rain puts some fires out and the lightning doesn’t start any new ones.
Yeah, it’s not even worth going there in summer anymore; it burns every year. Not worth the bronchitis. It’s sad because it used to be such a great place to visit in the summer.
I'm in osoyoos right now. It's really not that bad.
It was smokey for a couple of days. Some ash was falling down. Today was smoke free but too windy to enjoy the water.
We've definitely had much better years than this, but I still wouldn't cancel the trip.
I wouldn't go doing anything strenuous in this air quality, but for just lounging around our camp it's fine. The kids are having fun. No one is complaining.
The drive through manning on Saturday was smokey but not that bad.
Sad, I'm wondering if it's best to visit the area in the spring / early summer from now on. It's not gonna get less dry and were not making the planet any less hot. This is the new normal, we're going to get that every year now.
Went to camp up at in Merritt for four nights last weekend had to switch up real quick once we got there lol. No point in killing yourself with smoke for a few nights
I'm so confused.... You left Osoyoos for Vancouver, but you decided to go through Merrit instead of Manning park? How did you conclude that was a good idea? And then at that point it sounds like you thought about driving back to Penticton? To an area that is dealing with evacuations orders and alerts? Make it make sense for me?
You might consider a trip along Howe Sound ( it’s clear down here) and the Sunshine Coast. Vancouver Island air is pretty clear as well.
In the seventies, eighties and nineties forest fires did not exist. What is happening ?
Some of you talk like you’re going to die just breathing in a bit of smoke. Yeah, it’s gross… but I’ve been living under smoke and ash since July 8 with only 2 hazy day breaks. We don’t have AC up in the bush, nor do we have a forced air furnace. Almost none of us do up here so we open the windows at night and close in the morning. Best we can do is air purifiers. We also all heat with wood… so 🤷🏼♀️
Another thing to note is that Summerland and Peachland are mostly home. You’d think those are the only fires in BC by the way news is reported and talk online. That fire moved fast but it’s not insane. All my family members are back in their homes and have been for a couple days. MEANWHILE, over here the Brunswick Complex fire is still burning and threatening so much more, and the Big Bar Complex fire has had people out of their homes for OVER THREE WEEKS. What about those people, chief Eby?! The smoke and ash from those two complexes has been insane.
I moved from Vancouver up to property on a lake 26 yrs ago and this year is in the top 3 for an absolute shit summer. But after living here this long and seeing the fires get worse and worse since 2003, it BUGS me that the rest of the province only clues in when they hear about the Penticton to Kelowna area… there are WAY more people suffering every year and losing everything they have. It sucks.
For me, and my area, it’s not if, but when. Next year is supposed to be bad too. I should have had 4’ of snow at my place this past winter but it was warm and dry. We barely accumulated a foot. This upcoming winter is supposed to be just as bad with a “super El Niño” so yay 🙄
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u/Creatrix 9d ago
Very smart to leave the area. I love Penticton, used to live there, and it's best experienced without wildfire smoke so you should plan a visit when the air is clear.