Oops, yes, sorry, that was a pre-scheduled post. Here is a little wildfire update.

So, some of you may have thought my post this morning was a bit inappropriate, given events in the past few days here in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, and particularly given the recent ongoing Bald Range fire, which has caused the evacuation of the town of Summerland, and is still growing.
(There are actually a couple of big wildfires in the Okanagan right now, and they have caused significant damage, including loss of life.)

So, sorry about that inappropriate post. I have pre-scheduled posts for the month, and they will go up each Monday unless I stop them. And I forgot to stop this one today. I completely forgot about it.

Anyway, I am lucky enough to be able to say that while I am experiencing a disgusting amount of air pollution from the fires, and deliveries seem to be a bit slow in the past week or two due to highway closures, I am safe and I am still in my home. (I live further south than Summerland in the valley.)

My friend over at Winter Jewel Publishing is much more on top of things that I am, and she has announced that a portion of all profits on any sale of the anthology Red Eyes and Burning Lungs will be going to wildfire relief efforts.

Many of the evacuees from Summerland are now staying in the city of Penticton.
If you’re wanting to help financially but wondering which organizations to support, donating to the Red Cross is a pretty solid bet.
ALERT has been active rescuing and sheltering animals from the fire zone.
The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen is also active.
Once the fire dies down, I’m sure that the Kettle Valley Railway, a pretty amazing non-profit historic train attraction, will need help.
JCI Penticton has been providing hot meals to evacuees.
The regional Sikh temples are also co-ordinating volunteer efforts. This morning while I was (as briefly as possible) out I saw/heard two women preparing to take a load of groceries to the local Sikh temple.


On behalf of my neighbours, thanks for any help you can spare!

P.S. – If you are living in an area experiencing wild fire smoke, you may be able to create your own air cleaners following these directions.