Thanks to everyone who has expressed their sympathy for all those in the same smoky situation. It has felt apocalyptic at times.

I only have a room ac in the living room and usually that has been enough even on the hottest days because it always cools off at night and I just open the windows then to bring the house down in temperature. Very few people have central ac in their homes where I live because it is up north and not that hot. Plus it always cools off at night.

Today we had a break in the smoke because the wind is blowing from the north instead of from the west or northwest so it is actually 'safe' to go out and breath the air. Our aqhi is now a 4, which is 'moderate risk' instead of 10+, which is beyond 'very high risk' 10...

Anyway I am thankful for the break. The smoke is expected to come back later this week and we really won't be in the clear until the fires end which could be september or even october... hard to believe.