What says "The End of Summer" for you, John?

Labor Day barbecues?

A final camping trip?

Start of school?

First rainy day of September?

Arrival of pumpkin spice menus?

Or what about orange sunlight at noon?

From late-July all the way to mid- or late-September, the skies over the Pacific Northwest become hazy. On the days when the haze is thickest, the noon sunlight takes on an amber-glow of twilight, but on the worst days, it's an otherworldly red. This isn't mood lighting, it's caused by the wildfire smoke, bouncing sunlight back and forth in the atmosphere, splitting rays of light, and producing a red hue.

Living on the West Coast, we're familiar with fire season. But scratchy throats, dry eyes, falling ash, and orange skies are the least of our worries when thousands of acres of wilderness are burning — reducing fragile habitats to char and smoke — and families are losing their homes, businesses, and loved ones.

Over the last several decades, our wildfire problem has only grown, in large part because of climate change.

As our planet has heated up, weather patterns have changed, bringing less water to our forests and farmlands, and leaving them drier than ever. Additionally, as our climate warms, the nightly temperature becomes hotter and fewer evenings reach "dew point," the point when it is cold enough that moisture in the air can settle on trees, bushes, grasses, and underbrush. It's the same process that causes the morning dew on a lawn. But with hotter nights and less dew, the risk of fire only increases.

Now, some parts of Canada are seeing "zombie fires," fires that start one year and continue through to the next year, subdued, but never fully extinguished because there's not enough precipitation in the winter.

Sometimes it can feel hopeless and scary, especially when the skies are darkened by smoke, but we can fight climate change and reduce its harmful effects. As Lieutenant Governor, I have been working to reduce our carbon footprint, support green projects like the Northwest Hydrogen Hub, and pass legislation like the Climate Commitment Act.

No one should grow up in a world where wildfires are normal or a sign of the changing seasons. We need to act today because it is our responsibility to stop climate change and prevent its adverse effects — like rampant wildfires — so that our children and grandchildren can live happily and healthily.

I am running for reelection because I'm committed to fighting climate change and leading the way for future generations. Please donate $3 today, and help fund my reelection campaign so we can continue this vital work.

Thank you,

Denny