"Yuck" - worst wildfire smoke in years blankets region

            As Bend’s rapid growth shows little signs of abating, bringing increased traffic and steadily rising housing prices, at least some locals are engaging in a growth backlash.

            The  attitude is nothing new. But even the more ardent Bend growth advocates might have been tempted recently to embrace a  well-promoted bumper sticker: “Bend Sucks-Don’t Move Here.”

            Late on August 29 as the local weather monitors reported clear, sunny and hot weather, local webcams showed more accurate on-the-ground conditions of a thick gray haze from many wildfires in the state obscuring any view of the Cascades, or even farther than a few blocks.

            Scratchy eyes and throats, headaches and vague lack of energy afflicted even the healthiest of locals. For those with medical issues, the situation was potentially dangerous.         

            Not a few longer-term residents were complaining it was the worst smoke in a decade, although previous years have brought similar episodes of much less duration.

            At the the turn of the month going into Labor Day weekend restaurant operators were reporting business off by a third or more—especially those relying on their al fresco patio dining. Schools and parks departments cancelled outdoor activities.

            Golf courses were also bucking the smoke with tee time cancellations rising, even though a few links managers said they had periodic windows of less smoke.

The smokestacks above REI Aug 29

            Even as the megafire in the Chetco area near Brookings on the Oregon coast topped 100,000 thousand acres and winds blew smoke north into Central Oregon, the Milli Fire just west of Sisters added it’s noxious residue to what would otherwise be hot, clear days.

            New fires emerged just before month’s end in the Lava Butte area and another closed Santiam Pass, a major artery connecting to the Interstate-5 corridor. Popular campgrounds and public lodging near Elk Lake were on Level 2 evacuation notices.

            Weather forecasters predicted only modest relief in temperatures and little respite from the smoke, while looking ahead to the possibility of triple digit heat for the Labor Day weekend.

            Whatever the local opinion of Bend’s growth curve, it’s likely most would agree that an apt description of being in town late summer would be “Yuck.”

Snapshot of Bend and Redmond home prices

     Single family median home prices in Bend and Redmond jumped to an all-time single month peak in June of 2017.

      For the 12 months starting in July of 2016 the median sale price in Bend was $372,500 and in Redmond $271,500. 
      In Bend the low for the 12 months dipped to $354,000 in February of 2017 and in Redmond, $258,000 in January this year.

      The statistics are derived from the Multiple Listing Service of Central Oregon and reported by Beacon Appraisal.

Previous market reports

	Bend Single Family Home Sales 12 month through April 2017

August 21 - Bringing us together?

            Eclipse or “apoc-eclipse.”

            To read some reports of preparations underway along ground zero “path of totality” in Central Oregon the latter may seem more apt.

            Given the impending arrival of a predicted tens of thousands, swelling the regional population with 200,000 or more visitors, many businesses, along with those in transportation, law enforcement, emergency services and healthcare are readying for what might be compared to another Y2K, the potential catastrophe that wasn’t.

            Groceries are stocking extra inventory of food and beverages. Gas stations fear fuel shortages. Law enforcement and emergency services hope the weekend leading to Aug. 21, and the exodus to follow are peaceful with no major incidents.Transportation officials are nervous there will be gridlock.

            And the region’s leading healthcare provider, the St. Charles system, is bringing in extra medicine and equipment, including a larger supply of anti-venom for anyone who may run afoul of a rattler in the weeds and rocks.

            With a persistent heatwave in the 90s and no significant rainfall for most of the summer local, state and federal fire officials are holding their breath in hopes there will be no new wildfires. Already the region is bathed in a brownish-gray haze from local fires as well as smoke drifting from as far away as British Columbia, Washington and Montana.

            As for where all these visitors may spend their nights, nearly every lodging room in the region has been booked for months. In some cases it appears old-fashioned supply-demand-- and maybe a bit of greed-- took hold as room rates skyrocketed by 500% and more in some cases.

            The situation prompted the state attorney general to reportedly investigate a dozen or so cases, including several in which earlier published rates were not honored. One local hotel agreed to refund more than $6,000 to customers.

            Even so, the international online booking company Airbnb is putting an optimistic twist on the event. In an online offering Airbnb is sposoring a contest asking entrants to describe why they feel the eclipse is bringing people together.                The winner will get to spend the evening in a temporaty geodesic dome at the luxury development, Ranch at the Canyons, in the shadow of imposing Smith Rock State Park. In addition to dinner cooked by a private chef, the winner will hear a noted astrophysicist discuss the stars and celestial phenomena the evening before, accompanied by a National Geographic photographer.

            But wait, there’s more!!! The winner will arise in time to catch a private jet flight across the Cascades and out over the Pacific to be one of the first in the country to view the eclipse as it migrates onto land.

            Maybe the contest winner will have some advice on togetherness for those who may get stuck in eclipse traffic, or have been soaked by exorbitant lodging fees. As for rattlesnake bites, it’s a good guess the victims will not be singing kumbaya.

            Then again, maybe everyone will be in a good mood, having witnessed the only total eclipse to be visible across an entire swatch of the country in 99 years—unless smoke from wildfires dulls the experience. Both the National Weather Service and Intellicast were predicting clear skies and temperatues in the upper 80s for the big day.

            One possibility offered by residents wanting to avoid the crowds and traffic. Just watch live online or stream the video later. Chances are somewhere in the nationwide path of totality there will be perfect conditions to record it for posterity. No eye-protecting glasses required..