Alaska has seen record breaking temperatures this past week - enough so that we made the news in the lower 48 even - they didn't report the correct temps out there but they were close! A cousin from Pennsylvania emailed to let us know we had made the news all the way out there! 94 in Big Lake. That is the hottest I can remember it being here since we moved in 2005. It hasn't been just one day either - we have had weeks of hot, hot, hot! There is no end in sight - forecast says at least one more week of these temperatures, and maybe hotter. After that who knows - pray for rain for us!
I know it only says 91, but - NO AC in my car! I pulled into the shade at our house and took the pic before it hit the 94 mark! TO me, at least it matters not if it is 91 or 94 - both are the same level of hell!
We had a fire break out across the lake from us last night at about 10:00 pm, and gave all of us a good scare! Initial report said that it was started by a wood pile that spontaneously combusted! We have been evacuated from our home for large fires twice over the past years and this is the second one that has started within a 1/2 mile of us in the last 3 years! My "bug out" bag was packed last week because I knew that this might be an issue! A "bug out" bag is a bag or box that you put all your "P's" into; Important Papers (passports, wills, certificates,etc), Pills or medications, Pictures, Pet/livestock items - and dont forget the pets too - and people!
Above you can see the helicopter over the smoke - this pilot had just taken a patient on a life flight from Galena who had been mauled by a bear and then came right out to help our firefighters find and fight this fire! That is a military helicopter. They are helping with all of our fires. We cannot thank our firefighters and service members enough! When he got low on fuel, another chopper came to relieve him. It was a beautiful sight of the one helo peeling off toward the airport and the other beginning his work! I wish I had got it on film but the dogs were barking, people were showing up in the yard and my phone was blowing up with all the offers of help and the check ins!
There are 113 fires burning in Alaska right now as well. Those did not make the "outside news" according to the cousin, however. One was started by trailer chains dragging on the road and creating sparks, a few from cigarette butts, and one from an ATV that backfired and set the grass on fire. Most of them have been pure carelessness. People setting bonfires, and campfires. At 90 degrees in Alaska you do not need a "warming fire". Keeping in mind that my winter coat is literally a vest also- I have never been one to complain much about cold!
Above - smoke from the "Montana Creek Fire" taken from Oilwell Road about 25 miles away from the fire. I know it really looks like clouds but it is all smoke! Photo credit Aimee Matteucci.
If you haven't seen the article yet - take a look at why Alaska feels hotter than the rest of the U.S. - its science! Check it out HERE! Our 75 degrees feels hotter! We do not have air conditioning at our house - as a matter of fact I don't know anyone who does have it in their house. As I said earlier, I don't even have it in my car currently - just needs recharged I'm sure but....that's how little we usually need it here! Alaskans don't even know the rule that if the windows are down on the hot days, the person with the windows down has the right of way! I learned that one in Arizona when it was 116 degrees! If you have your windows down in that heat you have no AC!
So.....we have every window covered with sheets, curtains, and blankets to keep the heat out of the house and we have also made a little "swamp cooler" from a laundry rack, a fan, some towels, and I also added a "fish box" to fill with ice that doesn't show in the picture. A fish box is a styrofoam box used for keeping fish frozen in shipping! Fill it with ice, and put some ice on top of the wet towels and let the fan blow through it - ahhh nice cool air!
I have been doing the rain dances, and we have been watering here at Wicked Raven and at the school - almost daily at both places. Trying to make sure it's wet in case of fire and wet to stay alive in the heat! People, pets and plants! My drillers are a little leery of drilling until we get some rain - not only does welding add to the heat of the day behind a drill rig that is pushing heat out, but it also makes sparkss of...yes fire! Hoping to have some rain before we start drilling this week!
I hope wherever you are you have a lovely balance of sun and rain, and no fire unless you plan it!
Blessed be and stay cool!
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