We're catching the smell of burning grass this morning in northeast Portlandia. We didn't think that the handful of grass farmers in the Willamette Valley who are still allowed to burn were permitted to do so when the breezes are blowing up toward the metropolitan area. Usually they wait until right before it's supposed to start raining. But with temperatures expected in the 90s this afternoon and air quality already a bit dicey, it's surprising that the state has given the green light this morning.
UPDATE, 10:51 a.m.: A reader suggests that it's the White Salmon wildfire that's blowing this way. Winds have been from the west this morning, however, and that's the other way.
UPDATE, 10:56 a.m.: Apparently the winds are shifting around to the east, and it is the burning grass out in White Salmon that we're breathing, and will be all day. Yuck! At least it isn't the dang grass farmers.
Portland Fire & Rescue - 09/07/12
Portland Fire & Rescue has been receiving a large volume of calls from citizens (particularly those in east county) concerned about smoke in the area. With a major wildfire just east and to the north of us, (White Salmon, WA), Portland has been downwind of the fire all morning. With the current wind coming from the NE at near 10 mph, Portland is likely to experience smoky conditions until the fire goes out or the wind shifts.
The Highway 141 Fire is located along the east side of Hwy 141, approximately 2 miles north of White Salmon, Washington. The fire started at approximately 1:30pm on Wednesday, Sept. 5th. The fire is currently approximately 1,200 acres this morning and is considered to be 40% contained. Current information on the status of this fire can be obtained here: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3238/
Those "dang grass farmers" have had a tough time lately. The grass seed market has shriveled in the Bush Fallout Economy. But, these guys are smart - they converted to other crops, bring in over $5 Billion in farm product sales in 2011. This represents a 19% increase from 2010. So, while the "creatives" are bumping along in their barista jobs, those "dang grass farmers" have adapted and are giving an added boost to Oregon's economy.
This smoke has been prevalent for the last three days whether or not you've noticed. It is from the White Salmon. The temperatures we've experienced these last several days only occur when the hot, dry air pushes in from the eastern part of the state, down the gorge. If the prevailing weather system was from the west, we would be cool with more moisture.
Yeah, and the smoke has noticeably cleared out then. Speaking of overnight (and off topic), the dog got me up the other morning around 3:00. If you happen to be awake before dawn, check out Jupiter. It's magnificently bright.
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (14)
http://inciweb.org/incident/3238/
Wildfire near White Salmon.
Posted by Frank | September 7, 2012 10:50 AM
Probably the incinerators of the Clackamas County Commissioners and their lawyers, reducing those inconvenient piles of newly shredded paper.
Posted by Mojo | September 7, 2012 10:58 AM
Portland Fire & Rescue - 09/07/12
Portland Fire & Rescue has been receiving a large volume of calls from citizens (particularly those in east county) concerned about smoke in the area. With a major wildfire just east and to the north of us, (White Salmon, WA), Portland has been downwind of the fire all morning. With the current wind coming from the NE at near 10 mph, Portland is likely to experience smoky conditions until the fire goes out or the wind shifts.
The Highway 141 Fire is located along the east side of Hwy 141, approximately 2 miles north of White Salmon, Washington. The fire started at approximately 1:30pm on Wednesday, Sept. 5th. The fire is currently approximately 1,200 acres this morning and is considered to be 40% contained. Current information on the status of this fire can be obtained here: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3238/
Posted by OregonOak | September 7, 2012 11:01 AM
Portland has been downwind of the fire all morning.
That part's wrong. At the airport, the wind was westerly until about an hour ago.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=pdt&sid=PDX&num=24&graph=off
Posted by Jack Bog | September 7, 2012 11:02 AM
Those "dang grass farmers" have had a tough time lately. The grass seed market has shriveled in the Bush Fallout Economy. But, these guys are smart - they converted to other crops, bring in over $5 Billion in farm product sales in 2011. This represents a 19% increase from 2010. So, while the "creatives" are bumping along in their barista jobs, those "dang grass farmers" have adapted and are giving an added boost to Oregon's economy.
Posted by x-portlander | September 7, 2012 11:09 AM
The asthma treatment jobs they've created are really impressive, too.
Posted by Jack Bog | September 7, 2012 11:15 AM
Portland Fire is also conducting a 2 acre "controlled burn" in St. John's to get rid of invasive species.
Posted by Chuck | September 7, 2012 12:15 PM
This smoke has been prevalent for the last three days whether or not you've noticed. It is from the White Salmon. The temperatures we've experienced these last several days only occur when the hot, dry air pushes in from the eastern part of the state, down the gorge. If the prevailing weather system was from the west, we would be cool with more moisture.
Posted by PDXLifer | September 7, 2012 12:40 PM
In the evenings and overnight, the winds have been from the west.
Posted by Jack Bog | September 7, 2012 12:57 PM
Yeah, and the smoke has noticeably cleared out then. Speaking of overnight (and off topic), the dog got me up the other morning around 3:00. If you happen to be awake before dawn, check out Jupiter. It's magnificently bright.
Posted by PDXLifer | September 7, 2012 1:48 PM
Have any of you seen estimates of how much "greenhouse" gas is emitted from the average summer wildfire season compared to auto emissions?
Posted by john | September 7, 2012 2:19 PM
We've been getting Idaho smoke for weeks. Enjoy the beautiful sunsets!
Posted by Newleaf | September 7, 2012 2:20 PM
Yeah; let's pave over those grass-seed fields.
Posted by cros | September 7, 2012 3:48 PM
The asthma treatment jobs they've created are really impressive, too.
Tell me about it - my wife's asthmatic, and she's been using the nebulizer for the past 3 days. She almost never has to go that route.
Even last month when we got smoke from wildfires in Asia, it wasn't this bad for her.
Posted by Richard | September 7, 2012 8:01 PM