Crazy 20 Minute Smoke Storm!

So the other night, we experienced this really strange wind-smoke storm...for about 20 minutes.

Winds of 55+ mph...no rain...not much for clouds...lotsa smoke in the air, making it nearly impossible to see a block ahead...strong smell of fire...no thunder...no lightning...random stuff flying everywhere.

According to News Channel 7, there was a thunderstorm heading west from Oregon through northern Idaho. Although the storm itself didn't venture down into Boise, the winds did. There are three major wildfires ablaze along the Idaho-Oregon border, so with the winds came their thick smoke. The dramatic effect all of this had on Boise seems really crazy to me, given that Boise is in southwest Idaho.

The sky looked cool...I should've taken a couple pictures (the one above came from the local paper's website).

As with other western states, wildfires are a major issue here. There are currently a handful of wildfires running rampant throughout the state. They have interesting, and sometimes cutesy, names.

• Potato Fire
• Paddy Cake Fire
• Bushy Fire
• Dunce Fire
  
• 4 Wheel Drive Fire
• Burnt Fire
• Lick Creek Fire
• Rainbow Fire
  

We first heard about the great Potato Fire on the radio as we were driving into Idaho from Montana when we moved here.

Kaz and I have always liked the Paddy Cake Fire. Although, the quirkiest name has to be the 4 Wheel Drive Fire.