Alaska Wildfires

 

So, if you have never been to Alaska it probably isn't what you would expect. You have the usual snow and cold, unbelievable cold. But did you know that the Fairbanks area is also considered an arctic desert. That's right a desert, it is insane how dry things are around here. Well with that dryness comes this crazy summer wildfires. Generally, if you are up here in July/August, you will see smoke or haze from one wildfire or another. Last summer, because of one storm, lightening caused over 30 fires in one night. Well this summer there was a lightening strike just south of us in June. Because it was on government land and wasn't endangering anyone they let it run it's course and eventually the rains put it down, but they didn't put it out. In August we had a little heat wave which made it flare up once again and the smoke was spooky to see. Well here it is September and we had a little windstorm which once again made this fire flair up. This time though I was able to see it from my bedroom window. I took these photos right at dusk so they aren't very clear but at the bottom of the page the orange you see is the glow from the flames. You can see an initial smoke line in grey and a secondary line in white. It was eery and very cool to watch from my bedroom. Anyway, just thought I would share a little bit of my Alaskan life!