Usually at this time of year I am in full steam storm watching mode. My East-Coast amigas can expect emails inquiring of wind speeds and warning to bolt the barn door closed.

This year tho’ I have broadened my disaster horizons and am also watching local wildfires.

Here are the current wildfires of note (http://webmaps.gov.bc.ca/imf5/imf.jsp?site=pub_fireinfo)

There are currently 0 fires in the coastal region caused by lightening and 0 fires in coastal region caused by man. There have been 75 fires this year in the coastal region. There have been 647 fires in the Province so far this year. The total area burnt so far is 22,978 Ha. There were 5 new fires discovered today alone in the Province.

When the Burns Bog caught fire in 2005 it smelt like rural Ireland everywhere in the city.

If you want to see something astonishing: compare the map image of fires started by lightning in 2008 with 2009. 2009 looks like a lava lamp.