“Headed out to San Francisco,
For the Labor Day weekend show….”
That’s the first line of the first hit a now-departed friend penned decades ago. Seems strangely appropriate this Labor Day weekend because I’m north of San Francisco. Have no idea where Jimmy Buffett’s Labor Day show was, but I’d bet it, like many San Francisco music venues from that era is, like Jimmy, now only a memory.
Only 35 miles from San Francisco, in the heart of California wine country, weary firefighters are wishing the Pickett fire that has burned since August 21, consuming thousands of acres, including old vine vineyards, was a memory. But it’s not. For them, Labor Day weekend is far from a respite from fighting fires.
Cal Fire estimates the more than 5,000 wildfires in 2025 have consumed 371,000 acres, caused more than 30 fatalities and destroyed 16,000+ structures.
California’s not the only state with wildfire issues, despite its well-earned status as “poster child” for bad judgement in forestry management. This Labor Day weekend, fires are a major concern from New Mexico to Washington state.
Earlier this week, our friend and colleague Mike Faw shared one of his “morning in Montana” photos that illustrated just how big a problem fires really are in the west.
If you’ve never seen a forest fire, it’s difficult to describe. Fire appears to have a mind of its own. A mind hellbent on consuming anything and everyone within reach of its fire, embers or smoke.
Voluntarily venturing into that hellscape isn’t for the faint of heart, the weak of conditioning or the unobservant. Aided by a strong wind, it can outrun any man or animal and most equipment dispatched in an attempt to contain it. Everything in front of it becomes fuel. Everything behind becomes ash.
Firefighters are revered in the West for running into the danger they advise the rest of us to flee. More than 30 people in California alone have already died due to fires this year.
This holiday weekend, amidst the celebrations for the end of summer, the start of football season, or the actual federal holiday, we should recognize the brave people who aren’t getting a day off.
Labor Day was created to commemorate and honor the social and economic achievements of American workers. Seems only appropriate that as we acknowledge the 19th century’s establishment of fair wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions we recognize those who are working absent those guarantees.
We should all say a prayer for their safety-and rain-where it’s needed most.
If you’re one of those fortunate hunters who possesses a western tag this year, you need to be aware of the fact that the widespread wildfires have the potential to complicate, if not cancel, your hunting plans. If the area where you’re scheduled to hunt hasn’t been impacted by fire, you need to know the impacted areas have displaced plenty of animals, including grizzly bears. The same fires have also led to closures of many forest service and BLM roads, along with the closure of complete sections of hunting units. Campgrounds, too, are impacted. As you get closer to your hunting dates, you should keep an eye on weather conditions and keep checking for closures of anything from access roads to entire sections.
As always, we’ll keep you posted.
— Jim Shepherd