How I spent my summer vacation: Fleeing wildfires as a climate change refugee As tourists, we could escape the smoke plumes, air quality alerts and forest fires. But climate change disasters will turn us all into nomads.

Carrie Scherpelz | Opinion contributor

Our long-awaited trip to the Canadian Rockies this summer exceeded our expectations, but a lifetime in America's Midwest had not prepared us for the far-reaching effects of wildfires in the West.

Driving north from Spokane, Washington, we first noticed the low visibility and haze in the air. More than 500 wildfires were burning in British Columbia, but so far the Canadian National Parks remained open — unlike Yosemite National Park, parts of which were closed indefinitely due to fire.

Lake Louise was a must-see, we had heard. Although the surrounding mountains were mere silhouettes fading into a blue haze, our hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House was stunning. The next day lightning struck nearby, the winds shifted, and smoke from a new fire turned sunshine to twilight. Even the silhouettes of mountains disappeared, ash rained down on us, and deteriorating air quality made it impossible to stay outdoors.

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As tourists, we had options that local residents didn’t have. Based on regional air quality alerts, we drove north to Jasper two days ahead of schedule — a good move because the spectacular snowy peaks along the Icefields Parkway were clearly visible. Colors sparkled. For five days, we enjoyed beautiful views and breathable air, conditions perfect for sightseeing, hiking and mountain biking. Then smoke rolled in once again.

Frustrated, we asked National Park rangers, “What direction is the wind blowing fires? Where can we go now?” Convinced that Jasper would stay smoky for days, we canceled our planned but no-longer-scenic gondola ride and fled south back to Spokane a day early, taking a new route because our original route was closed by fire. By the time we reached home, after several days traveling in triple-digit heat, the west end of Glacier National Park was closed.

Fires, storms and floods — the new normal

All over the world, man-made climate change has helped increase the frequency and intensity of forest fires. Already, many people have been driven from their homes by climate-fueled fires, storms and floods. Thanks to our smoke-filled vacation, we soberly considered the long-term consequences that many people face because we are polluting our atmosphere with carbon emissions.

In a sense, my husband and I became climate migrants packing and repacking our suitcases, moving from place to place, leaving a trail of canceled accommodations and scheduled gondola rides. For tourists like us, the fires were a minor inconvenience. For residents who depend on park tourism in Canada and the United States, wildfires are a constant threat to their lives, not just their livelihood. Many locals keep their bags packed, ready to flee a fire, but they can’t avoid another hazard — prolonged smoke exposure.

Hundreds of thousands of people living in and around fire-prone areas are stuck with a new normal. Now the smoke season lasts for months rather than days, over a wider area, with serious health effects.

The truth is that while you and I may be able to ignore climate change, many people are suffering right now from the consequences of a warming world. People have lost or left their homes in desperation — have even left their countries — as storms and droughts worsen.

An average of 21.7 million people per year have been displaced by catastrophic weather disasters since 2008, and some experts say the number will keep growing.

“In our rapidly changing world, climate change — and its potential to trigger both violent conflict and mass migration — needs to be considered as an urgent priority for policymakers and business leaders alike,” according to Environmental Justice Foundation Executive Director Steve Trent.

A new Yale survey found that 51 percent of Americans say global warming is already harming people, and 70 percent worry that it will harm future generations. Why are we failing to address a crisis that scientists have warned us about for more than 50 years? Maybe if we stand in the shoes of a climate migrant, we will realize that someday we might wear those shoes.

Climate change knows no borders

Even if we are not suffering ourselves, our actions likely cause others to suffer. Fossil fuel emissions harm people worldwide, because our shared atmosphere observes no borders. Ultimately, parts of our common home will become unlivable. Every nation must stop burning carbon-based fuels and focus on clean energy, efficiency and conservation — and soon.

The steps we have taken to address this crisis are not enough. Congress could put a revenue-neutral fee on carbon emissions. With a financial incentive to reduce emissions, the free market will invest in technologies to build a clean and safe world for families everywhere.

After our vacation, climate-fueled disasters followed us back home. Winds carried the smoke plumes from Canadian fires — now visible from a NASA satellite 1 million miles away — as far as our home state, Wisconsin.

Days after our homecoming, torrential rainfall in our area caused widespread flooding, closing highways and washing out bridges. The deluge broke an all-time state record for rainfall with reports of between 12 and 15 inches. Three communities were submerged, Red Cross shelters opened, and a large rescue effort evacuated people to higher ground.

Now we have climate refugees here in Madison. It’s both foolish and immoral to ignore our role in destabilizing the climate. Will we decide to save ourselves — and our neighbors, near and far?

Carrie Scherpelz is a marketing professional with a business based in Madison, Wisconsin.