A tall mountain pass separates me from California, yet it’s
hard to get away. Smoke from the “King” fire has drifted over the heights of
Donner Pass, traveled hundreds of miles northwest and settled thickly on Boise.
We breathe it, smell it, taste it. Our eyes water and sting.
Thousands of California residents have been displaced by the searing conflagration
that has been burning day and night for two weeks. Hundreds of thousands more from
Reno to Boise choke on the smoke.
It doesn’t seem fair that repercussions from this fire have
drifted so far.
A hundred thousand acres scorched – more than 150 square
miles of forested mountains blackened – 8,000 firefighters called to action.
Then, the rain comes. Washing it all away. Bringing a
cleansing chill to the air and a halt to the burning. Other states breathe a sigh of relief.
I’m back in California again and the temperature is rising,
even as we head into October. It’s been a long summer.
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