MaximumRD Posted August 19, 2023 Report Share Posted August 19, 2023 (edited) Not an "adventure" or story I prefer to be writing about but sharing just as a distraction and well ASKING FOR GOOD WILL AND WISHES. Just wanted to share and also IF you don't see me around for a bit this may be why, just wanted to keep my friends here in the loop.... You need only google KELOWNA + Fires to know things are a little scary here at the moment. I've posted on Facebook and Twitter and messaged close friends and family mostly to assure people, media typically posts scary video and images, DON'T GET ME WRONG I am not playing it down, just need to look at things logically and practically and provide true details. AS OF THIS MOMENT AS I TYPE THIS where WE reside in central Kelowna we are not on evacuation or alert. We are also mid thunderstorms and high winds which can change that status in a moments notice. West Kelowna is across the lake from us, a 5 minute drive across a bridge, they have had thousands evacuated as fires are out of control there. Melissa and I will sleep on shifts so one of us can always monitor the current status. ALSO: we have up to the minute alerts sent to us via messages and Email services, we are aware of local evacuation centers and we already have essentials and necessities packed up and ready to go as well as relatives that we can drive to in a worse case scenario. So there is nothing more to do or prepare it's just a waiting game and hoping things get under control. So that's it my friends, just wanted to vent, outside our balcony window skies are grey with smoke and you can smell it, we have our air filters going as well. These are two images, this is not to alarm you, just for context and to show I am not over reacting, basically the couple sitting on the bench are in City Park and this is a view of the fires raging across the lake late last night, a situation that has not improved, form where we are I could walk down to City Park in 20 minutes. The second image also from last night shows the building and downtown in areas of my city in contrast to the fires across the lake. Overnight there has appeared some spot fires and they are growing ON OUR SIDE likely from embers that floated across, these fires are growing as we get more evacuation alerts but that is travelling east of the city opposite direct from us SO FAR. THAT IS MY STORY, just trying to stay calm and cool headed but alert and ready. Worst fires here ever and oddly the 20th anniversary of historic Kelowna Mountain fires. This is life in British Columbia, beautiful here but man this is something I never had to worry about living in the big city of Toronto Ontario where we came here from 20 years ago. 🧯😬 This MAP breaks down a recent status. BLUE MARK is approx where WE reside, yellow is on alert, RED on Evac. SEND GOOD THOUGHTS AND VIBES things turn around and we don't actually have to evacuate. Edited August 19, 2023 by MaximumRD update socrates63, DegasElite, Justin and 3 others 1 1 4 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted August 19, 2023 Report Share Posted August 19, 2023 You have it covered with a great plan. Best wishes! I hope they get it under control soon. MaximumRD, Sabertooth, Justin and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabertooth Posted August 19, 2023 Report Share Posted August 19, 2023 As Rick said, you have it covered with a great plan! Hopefully they can contain the fire and prevent further evacuations. DegasElite, MaximumRD, RickR and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted August 19, 2023 Report Share Posted August 19, 2023 Best wishes through this @MaximumRD we are all here for you if you need anything. We went through a hurricane last year that was rougher than usual. Always know you have a team of people here who have your back 👊 DegasElite, MaximumRD and RickR 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted August 19, 2023 Report Share Posted August 19, 2023 That does look scary but it does appear that you have a plan in place. Let's hope you don't have to use it! MaximumRD, DegasElite and RickR 2 1 Quote 🖖 Going to the final frontier, gaming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 Family / Friends FYI regarding our current status of the surrounding fires here and near Kelowna. - The alerts have slowed down significantly and the brave firefighters built a firewall on knox Mountain over night to keep the fire from spreading into Central Kelowna. Otherwise same, we remain at the ready and constantly monitor throughout the day, we won't be caught off guard as my wife and I are sleeping in shifts so no chance will miss any alert. Lastly, fyi the evac center is very close to us should it ever become necessary. Heavy smoke, poor air quality see image, this is our downtown which would be about a 20 minute walk from our position) but nothing we've not experienced before, so we have our air purifiers running 24/7. My wife and I are a great team and have everything within our control covered so let's just all hope winds and circumstances stay on our side. Thanks to all that have messaged or commented your concerns and best wishes. - Rob. socrates63, TrekMD, DegasElite and 2 others 4 1 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socrates63 Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 Best wishes, Rob, for you and your wife and the folks in Kelowna and all those fighting the blaze. MaximumRD, Justin, DegasElite and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 44 minutes ago, socrates63 said: Best wishes, Rob, for you and your wife and the folks in Kelowna and all those fighting the blaze. Ditto DegasElite, RickR, MaximumRD and 2 others 4 1 Quote 🖖 Going to the final frontier, gaming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 Prayers being sent. MaximumRD, DegasElite, Justin and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 Whew! Caught up one rest for now, slept the day away but caught up on over due sleep, from 9am this morning until 6:30 pm I got 9 1/2 hrs rest. I was exhausted from staying up longer than I normally would so my wife could slumber worry free, we are still sleeping in shifts to remain vigilant for wildfire alerts to either prepare for evacuation or simply evacuate, just being extra cautious as fires continue here in Kelowna BC but thankfully there has been no changes in several hours with even some evac alerts in some areas being demoted to simply stand by, hoping this means they are gaining ground. Been a rough few days but otherwise still trying to just live normally, enjoying hobbies, indoors mostly of course due to poor air quality from smoke and ash but as I tend to be a home anyway that is not too unusual. Hoping the next few days we can eventually unpack our "Evac essentials" so I can finally feel at ease. My wonderful wife prepared for me a nice dinner and dessert another my long slumber so now just back in front of the desktop to distract myself and try to unwind. 😬 Chorizo sandwiches with fresh tomatoes for dinner. Enjoying for dessert, straight from the orchard, Glo-haven Peaches. We have several varsities here in the Okanagan, this is juicy sweet and delicious one. Previously we had Champaign variety. 😋 Justin, socrates63, DegasElite and 1 other 3 1 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smell Dawg Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 The peaches look amazing - never tried glo-havens before! There's a palisade peach truck that comes through our area in the summers, though, and after eating those, I've never bought another grocery store peach again 😀 TrekMD, socrates63, Justin and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 👍Just wanted to say, THANKS to some rain overnight, at least we awoke to a normal sunrise! Like almost a normal sunny day, only a faint hickory smell (instead of thick smokey smell) and just a little hazy so mountains are not clear in the distance, but compared to the last few days when we could not even see mountains and the skies were greyed out and ash was falling, this is obviously a big improvement. Even got the windows open because it's cooled off as well. So, just glad after last few days getting real air through the place to air it out! Been a real stuffy hot box in here the last few days, the things we are thankful for! Not in the clear quite yet but hoping it's a sign! (picture from our balcony) DegasElite, Justin, socrates63 and 2 others 4 1 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 Great news! Fingers crossed that things continue to improve for the situation up there. socrates63, DegasElite, MaximumRD and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted August 24, 2023 Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 Glad that it rained and made things better! Definitely the rain will clean the air from all the smoke. DegasElite, MaximumRD, socrates63 and 2 others 4 1 Quote 🖖 Going to the final frontier, gaming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socrates63 Posted August 24, 2023 Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 On 8/22/2023 at 9:53 PM, MaximumRD said: What is that itty bitty 2600? Is it functional? Smell Dawg, DegasElite, Justin and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 6 hours ago, socrates63 said: What is that itty bitty 2600? Is it functional? 😁Heh Naw, just a lego replica my buddy Jake aka MN12BIRD from youtube sent to me, I love it. socrates63, Smell Dawg, RickR and 2 others 5 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted August 24, 2023 Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 Sign o the times -- checking the MSN weather site daily for air quality readings. I'm thinking about getting a meter for inside my home. Kelowna is showing a 38 as of now, but surrounded by bad air to the west and north. Hopefully, things continue to improve! DegasElite, MaximumRD, socrates63 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2023 3 hours ago, RickR said: Sign o the times -- checking the MSN weather site daily for air quality readings. I'm thinking about getting a meter for inside my home. Kelowna is showing a 38 as of now, but surrounded by bad air to the west and north. Hopefully, things continue to improve! Indeed! IN FACT this is right now, first time in days NO AIR Quality ALERT here in Central KELOWNA where we are! Very relieved. High of only 25c today, getting high over the weekend but cooling again by Tues! I'll take it! Justin and RickR 1 1 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 Air Quality here now (I do fine even when it's worse so this is good imho) 60 Moderate Primary Pollutant · PM2.5 16 μg/m³ Air quality is acceptable. However, members of sensitive groups may be at risk. Justin and RickR 2 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted August 25, 2023 Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 If it is any consolation, we're at AQI 55 here. It smells very slightly of smoke, and there is a haze very high in the atmosphere. I assume you can't see the flames anymore and that is good. And the fire fighters have the blazes more contained, right? Justin and MaximumRD 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 Just now, RickR said: If it is any consolation, we're at AQI 55 here. It smells very slightly of smoke, and there is a haze very high in the atmosphere. I assume you can't see the flames anymore and that is good. And the fire fighters have the blazes more contained, right? I don't think it is viewable from here now, I mean I am not in a location where I can look across the lake now but I can only assumed that area has burnt out, but yeah if we are seeing sun and blue skies and smelling less smoke it must all be further aways from us not to mention alerts have slowed down significantly with the majority that we DO receive typically informing alerts being rescinded or downgraded from evac to just standby. Literally just as I saw you reply I received THIS one so hoping it will be time to unpack our emergency items soon..... RickR and Justin 1 1 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted August 25, 2023 Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 GREAT NEWS! I appreciate you keeping us up to date. I do worry! I will hope that things continue to improve in lovely BC. Justin and MaximumRD 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 This is sadly heartbreaking though: Fire chief and half his members lose their own homes while fighting the wildfire Thirteen of the 24 members of the Wilson's Landing Fire Department lost their homes. https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/VIDEO_Fire_chief_and_half_his_members_lose_their_own_homes_while_fighting_the_wildfire/ TrekMD, socrates63, RickR and 2 others 5 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted August 25, 2023 Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 OMG that SUCKS! F-ing wildfires. Justin and MaximumRD 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumRD Posted August 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2023 10 minutes ago, RickR said: OMG that SUCKS! F-ing wildfires. Yeah, for context, I forgot to add above, in red I circled Wilsons Landing to where we are across the bridge in Central Kelowna and connected them: Smell Dawg and Justin 2 Quote I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday." - M. Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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