Man it has been ugly lately. It seems like in the decade or so it has gotten worse and seemed to never have the smoke problems we are witnessing these days.

Any picture to share smokey landscape would be nice if you have any.

I kinda dig the smoke.
Helps block the sun on hot days.

Yeah, I think helps that way and maybe keeps things warmer for longer with the dense smoke.

If you think back the smoke from the wildfires and the wilfires themselves,have continually gotten worse each summer ,at least in my area, since the Forest Service an DNR went from fighting the fires to "managing" the fires, so as to supposedly "reintroduce" fire to the forest,

( General consensus of oldtimers) they can't manage the forest so they burn them

Part of the issue is that they can't get enough firefighters. No one wants to work anymore, let alone fight fire and sleep in the dirt for $15 an hour. Often times they need to make due with what they have and prioritize where the few fire fighters go.

160- nailed it.
no truer statement spoken

Devils Tower & Needles highway yesterday, and Rushmore 2 days ago. Can’t smell the smoke but it’s there. News said it might clear out in a couple days for the black hills with the predicted easterly wind. Never been here so not sure how clear it’s supposed to be…lol

It has been smoky here for a week plus. Right now I can not see 2 miles. It is just hazy looking, I need a good south wind to blow it back o Canada.

160, can't agree with any more with people not wanting to work. It would be a great career for a young outdoors person. I would have loved a job like that.

These are from a good day.

Ain’t nothing around the St. Regis area is there?

They are getting smoke and air quality issues. I believe there are a few fires in that area. 71 active fires in MT and a total of 961 wildfires this year already.

Having a bad air day alert here for Wed. But the smoke is supposed to stay at an high altitude.

Pretty bad here in south Dakota at the nta as well.

It was a great job for 32 years! I saw some beautiful country and make some great friends. I miss the excitement of it but I don't miss seeing people hurt, sleeping in paper sleeping bags, 21 days without a shower or cold bacon out of the bottom of a 5 gallon pail of grease.
I left for Idaho as a 19 year old kid, not knowing anyone out where I was going and having never been West of Bismark. I drove from MN to ID in a rusty old chevy truck. I had some clothes, fishing poles and a 22 rifle. I called home (collect) on Sunday's if I wasn't on a fire someplace. I actually bought my home that I had never seen by pay phone while making a whopping $4.25 an hour. The good old days!

Wow!!! A humbling start to a lifelong career gives a man character for sure. That is awesome!!
That is interesting and would have been right down my alley as a young man. I remember at 18 years old I applied to go to Alaska to work on the North Slope but never got the job a good friend of mine got a job up there and made a lot of money and had a career of it.

Great picture smoke and all!!!

OK, Snowy got me all nostalgic now. Here are a few pictures that I had handy. I have a bunch of much better ones but they are in a footlocker in the garage somewhere.

19 years old, somewhere on the Powell District 1992. Hiking around on the mountain looking for a single tree lightning strike.


Powell, ID moving the Farmall Cub out from the Fish Lake (If I remember correctly) Airstrip.


Lowman ID, (Elk Creek Guard Station) probably 1997 or so with my saw "Miss January".............and the hair was moss.


Garden Valley, ID 1998 running my own 20 person crew for the first time.


Superior NF somewhere around Ely, MN probably 2012 or so.

Wow!!! Thank You, thank you. Great pictures and not everyone would do that job but thank God we have people like yourself that sacrifices life and risk for a job that helps so many.

Fire Fighters are behind the scenes heroes.

Thank You for the great pictures and history of a very rewarding career and in most cases not even a pat on the back.

160 I bet you never had to care firah in your pocket always at your disposal.