FIGHTING FOREST FIRES

Most of the local forest fires have been contained but a careful watch is being observed. The forest fires in California are still active and a back-burn is in the works with hopes of keeping them away from residential areas.

The men and women who worked long hours to extinguish the fires are now enjoying a respite. Some days the smoke obliterated the sun and the elderly, fragile, the ill and young children were advised to stay inside. Looking at the ominous skies I hesitated to even go out to my water my plants. Their leaves had begun to hang low and heavy as they also suffered as they signaled for help. I was glad to accommodate them.

But there is an unseen area that remains with its challenges. For those who either smoked tobacco or worked in offices and other places where indoor smoking was permitted may now have sensitive lungs that need care. “Were you ever a smoker or worked in an area where there was side stream smoke?” is the doctor’s question. I replied that I had never even had a desire to smoke but during my working years in offices, fellow employees often smoked at their desks. Now many of these former employees have the problem of damaged lungs in their older years even though they never smoked themselves. No doubt those inside worker cells within the lungs are very busy cleaning each tiny protective hair that works hard to ward off emphysema or asthma. Widespread deaths from cancer may have their source in the lungs that can spread to other areas. Other cells may be moved into the lungs to help with the cleanup. The organs of elimination could be short of help so special care should be taken in this area.