Dear Folks,

Every year, at this time of year, we begin thinking about what it means for each of us, personally, to be heading into one more year of smoke…

Most of us will never see the fire.

Yet, when breathing smoke, we are told that there must be fire,

Somewhere.

Each of us will prepare the best way we always do, based on experience and financial resources, plus IQ.

I, for one, use DUAL-AIR-PURIFIERS in my bedroom.

The windows have been boarded up, which serves a DUAL Purpose, too.

Less Smoke.

Less Noise from Large Dump Trucks which stir up road-dust 24/7/365…

But Dump Trucks and Dust is another story.

I begin with Dual Purifiers in the Bedroom, which gets the Smoke down to AQI or PPM, or whatever, of 001, which is as low as the sensor goes. Then, I sleep OK, And, the smoke is not noticeable, even though some say I might be living a Molar Life during the Burning Season, when it is a Bad Year.

But my question and this Topic is about BETS and PROGNOSTICATIONS for the Burning Season of the Year of the FIRE Horse.

Should we not have a BUMPER YEAR for the Year of the FIRE Horse, logically speaking?

As I recall, one of the Smokiest Years must have been the YEAR Of The BIG SMOKE 2019.

That, without doubt, was the smokiest year in over a decade, at least in northern Chiang Mai it was.

Well, anyway...

I am preparing for the High Point of our 2026 Burning Season:

Will 2026 rival 2019?

How many 3M respirators should I prepare this year?

Will Smoke Get In My Eyes?

I am not worried in the least.

This will be only a minor inconvenience for me.

I just want to know what the betting odds are, at this time, for a Super-Smoky Burning Season in the year of the Fire Horse.

What are your bets?

What has changed for the worse?

Anything changed for the better?

How many respirators do you have on-hand in your closet?

I normally keep about 80 at the ready.

However, these were all purchased in 2019.

I have them in a temperature controlled environment, and so how long will the elastic on these 3M units last, do you think?

I hope nobody thinks I am obsessing about the Burning Season here, because I am not.

I just like to be prepared.

Also, I am curious about your views, and the views of others not reading this forum, concerning the coming Smog.

Best regards,

Gamma

Note: I think these masks will stay fit for use for about one decade, but I must remember to keep my ACs running 24/7 to maximize life-span.

Important Final Note:  I enjoy using the 3M  FFP3 respirators and NOT the FFP2 type. The reason is that my FFP3’s efficiency at removing dust particles rises to 99% vs only 94% for the FFP2 model.

I feel so much better with the FFP3 knowing that I am collecting an extra 6-percent of all dust particles coming my way, when I am out exercising in the Smoky Mountains.

I just hope, if this turns into a memorable and interesting year for smoke, that local vendors will not run out of the respirator I love best:

This is a decent product.

Also, these are sold here in Thailand at an acceptable and fair price...IMHO.

I just worry, night and day, that local-Thailand stock might run dry...or...

Has it already hit bottom?

IDK.

I must check,

Probably later today.

I would gladly buy from OfficeMate.

OfficeMate provides good backup customer service.

I will NOT be buying from Shopee, (OF COURSE)...

Nobody at Shopee to talk to, and no customer service number in plain sight.

So, no to Shopee and YES to Office Mate, if they get stock, or if I can order.

Just checked AQI on March 6 2026 and it 138. It is has started.

44 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Just checked AQI on March 6 2026 and it 138. It is has started.

Yes,

It most definitely has begun.

The sky is becoming brownish-grey.

AQI here is now sitting at a fairly steady 155.

We have not seen AQIs of 300 to 500 in quite some time.

Maybe time to seal the cracks, in advance.

The latest news for all of LOS has not been good: 1) Start of low season 2) Smoke season 3) Airline disruptions due to the US-Israel-War war. Tough times could be ahead for all of LOS.