You would think with all of the wildfires across Alberta, people would be a little bit more considerate, or at least careful.
That doesn’t seem to be the case though.
I continue to see people tossing their cigarettes out the window as they head down the highway. Regardless of whether you put it out in the car, there’s still a chance it could spark and turn a simple littering case into a full-blown fire.
Meagan MacEachern The MacEachern Mindset
You may think I’m being dramatic, but I’m sure there are dozens of firefighters that would agree with me.
All if takes is one careless act for everything to turn south.
Think about those small backyard bonfires that get out of hand. Or using fireworks during a dry spell.
Heck, even driving your off-highway vehicle can result in a grassland fire.
None of us want that.
So just be smart about it.
In 2018, there were 1,288 wildfires reported in Alberta, 60 per cent of which were caused by humans.
That’s not only the case for 2018 though. The five-year average, which is roughly 1,400 wildfires, 65 per cent were caused by people.
Last year alone, Alberta lost nearly 60,000 hectares.
If that’s not reason enough to step back and think twice, then I don’t know what else is.
I know it’s summer, I know you want to sit around a campfire soaking in the stars and enjoying the fresh air.
But please, follow the fire bans.
Keep water nearby and just be smart about it.
You don’t want to be the reason why something as small as a cigarette causes mass destruction.
Just be considerate, because it’s not only our homes you have to think about, but also the wildlife that surrounds us.
