Devastating fire photos just hours from Boise

Although the 90 degree temperatures have left our area for a while, the effects of the Durkee Fire, one of the largest in the country, are still affecting the lives of residents in Idaho and Oregon. Several farmers, ranchers and homeowners have lost their homes, stocks and businesses. 

Several resources from many firefighting units, for whose efforts we are very grateful, continue to work tirelessly to stop the fire. We saw firsthand several firefighters on trains fighting the fires. One of the nation’s major highways, I84, has been closed on and off due to the fires crossing the interstate.

Summer in Idaho and the rest of the western states is fire season. Wildfires in the West continue to plague the health and safety of those affected by the deadly fires raging across the region.

The fires also cause poor air quality for people with respiratory problems due to asthma-related health conditions. It is not uncommon for weather forecasters to warn people to stay indoors because the air is too hard to breathe.

The source of the wildfires is the federal government’s restrictions on the timber industry. The industry was a major source of employment and created jobs in the forestry sector. The government put the timber industry out of business. The forests are not being properly pruned, which leads to the many uncontrolled fires every summer.

How bad is it? We had the chance to take a short tour of the cities of Huntington and Baker City, Oregon to see the damage firsthand. Parts of those cities had to be evacuated due to the Durkee Fire.