This summer’s wildfires started a month early, and it showed no signs of letting up. This house pictured above burned in July in the Substation Fire. More fires started in the area of Dufur, Oregon, which is located south of The Dalles in Wasco County.  I was worried that some of my other new favorite photo locations had burned as well.  I have good news and some bad news on that front.

First, the good news:  Dufur is intact, and many scenc views survived.

The bad news:  Agriculture in the area was severely impacted.  Some 83,000 acres of oregon wheat and other crops were lost, leaving farmers with debt from the growing season, and fewer crops to sell.  Worse yet, China’s retaliation to tariffs from the Trump Administration have lowered prices for their remaining stock.    And, to top it off, this is not the end of it.

SR 14 in southern Washington State. Taken after the grass fires of summer 2018, which were abundant after a very dry summer.

Global Climate Change is set to make summers even drier than before.  The Columbia Gorge was so dry that all it took to start fires was improperly stored tire chains on trucks and busses, and, of course, smokers who think the world is their ashtray.

Two fires at Memaloose State park in the Columbia Gorge were likely started by careless smokers.

I have very few pictures of the fires, both from this year, and from the massive fire in the Columbia Gorge last year.  I like to stay out the way of firefighters.

2017 and 2018 have left me with a strong sense of loss for the area, and trepidation for the future.  We are beginning to reap the rewards we have sown for decades of wanton burning of fossil fuels.  Stronger hurricanes, and deeper floods in the east, and parched summers in the arid west are what’s in store.  There is no excuse for inaction.  There should be no mercy for deniers.

–Gary L. Quay