by Carl A. Ten Hoopen
July 16, 2026  updated July 17, 2026 8:12 a.m.

The early evening sky glowed eerily orange. When morning came, a thick haze covered the woodland hills and town of Evoraberg. The air was thick with humidity and smoke.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reports 893 fires actively burning in Canada. According to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, the vast majority of wildfires are burning out of control.https://ciffc.net/

Statistical data from the National Interagency Fire Center reports that between January 1 and July 15 of this year, 3,633,827 acres have been consumed by 39,520 fires in the United States. There are 18 active large fires, six in Minnesota, burning out of control.  Thursday’s air quality is expected to range from 180 to 390 in Niagara Falls, New York. https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn

The air quality for Allegany County, New York is a dangerous 182 for today.

Harvey Zeanah, the manager of Buddy’s Precision Machining and Custom Parts, is 45 years old. A graduate of Houghton College, he has been with the Evoraberg Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department for twenty-three years. He has a police scanner in his office and at home. “You never know when we’re needed in the community or in a neighboring town.”   

“Fires burn erratically and inconsistently,” Zeanah, the captain of the fire department, said. “Each fire has its own personality. There are numerous factors that we take into consideration when training and fighting a fire.”

Zeanah went on to explain that in an environmental fire, the terrain and weather conditions determine how long a crew can remain on the front line before they require rehabilitation. “Keep in mind that a fire behaves in stages. We have to be keenly aware of the potential for explosive events. We have been fortunate in Allegany County. I would estimate we are at a moderate risk of an ecological fire.”

Strategic planning is vital in Zeanah’s job. He makes common-sense distinctions in building construction to understand flame spread in lightweight trusses vs. heavy timber burns and to determine the risk of structural collapse. “Households contain numerous very, very dangerous toxic chemicals,” he said. These include formaldehyde, arsenic, chlorine, and azo dyes in fabric. A chemical known as phthalates is found in every product, from floor tiles to furniture and upholstery. Pesticides are in wool.

“It’s crazy what we have in our homes and what fires release into the atmosphere. People need to be reading labels before purchasing products,” Zeanah stated. “This is what firefighters contend with. I think about this stuff when we get a call.”

Before sending responders into a blaze, Zeanah needs to understand the potential hazards. He views his crew as family. There’s a bond of trust. They regularly work out at the college gym. Their turnout gear weighs between 45 and 75 pounds, depending on the fire. Once a month, they have breakfast. Their bond is tight. He met his wife, Barb, a firefighter, before they had their first child. Volunteerism, serving the community, is a way of life for the couple. 

The Evoraberg Council recently held a public meeting to discuss a budget increase to purchase new equipment for the fire department. Councilwoman Evelyn Bachmann, a supporter of the budget increase, spoke on behalf of the fire department. “It’s the right thing to do for our community. We need a new firetruck and equipment. From our planning to the delivery will take from two to four years.” Residents voiced opposition to a tax increase. The proposal was tabled.

“Residents don’t appreciate the hazards our volunteers contend with and the need for upgrades,” Ms. Bachmann said after the vote. She cited a report by the USDA Forest Service stating that 15% of structures in Allegany County are indirectly exposed to wildfire, with 84% directly exposed. “I intend to keep raising this issue.” https://apps.wildfirerisk.org/explore/risk-reduction-zones/36/36003

The councilwoman hopes that the legislative bodies of all states will improve their land-use planning, require developers to construct affordable, wildfire-ignition-resistant housing, and raise standards for hazardous fuel management to reduce flammable vegetation in landscaping.

Zeanah contends that extreme events such as fires and floods are human-caused. A report by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine supports his conclusion. https://www.nationalacademies.org/

“We’ve got to improve our thinking about greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. They’re contributing to these extreme weather conditions that will become even more intense. More fires, floods, tornadoes, and heat domes. I don’t understand these politicians who are lackadaisical about rescinding the environmental laws. They need to trust the science. Otherwise, what’s happening in states like California, Minnesota and other countries like Spain, France and Canada will continue to worsen.”

Shaking his head, Zeanah added, “And firefighters like those on my crew will keep putting their health and lives on the line. It’s what we do.”  

Carl A. Ten Hoopen is the political, science, and business reporter for the Evoraberg Independent.

Photograph by Jay Heike on Unsplash