Greetings everyone all around this world of ours.  It has turned out to be a beautiful day again.  The temp actually made it to 26 or 79F and with the humidity if felt like 30 or 86F. So not a bad day, and the sun is shining brightly.  That is not always the case around here.  This is a forested area.  This town is carved out of the forest.  And that means that forest fires are a common thing around here.  Every year much of our forest is lost to fires.  And a lot of that is due to human carelessness.  And that is sad.

Our summer began very dry this year.  That is a big problem for us, and even with fire restrictions in place, meaning open fires are banned for any purpose, people still think it doesn’t apply to them.  They come here for their vacation, to fish or whatever, and they want a campfire.  And they are going to have that campfire no matter what.  Unfortunately these people often don’t know how to make a proper campfire.  And they don’t understand how dry the forest can get.

People will make their fire on top of dry moss or pine needles.  And that stuff just burns like paper when it’s dry.  Or they will make their campfire under, or too near, trees.  Common sense should tell a person that is not a good idea.  But people figure they can control their campfire, after all it’s just a tiny fire, what can that do?  But if it is windy and their campfire is made wrong, that tiny fire is going to fly.  Quite literally.  Ashes can carry in the wind for long distances and start a fire very quickly in that new location.

The devastation is also quick.  Not only the loss of the forest, but wildlife as well that are not able to get out of the way.  Plus many times there is the loss of human life, including people who are fighting those fires.  And the loss of homes and cottages.  But it’s just a tiny campfire, what damage can that do.  One time a campfire got out of control and in one week it burned over 50,000 hectares.  There are fires burning in our region right now, 15 of them.  The largest is 96,000 hectares.  For those not familiar with hectares, that would equal about 237,000 acres.  Another is about 51,000 hectares (126,000 acres) and a third at 32,000 hectares (79,000 acres).  Others are smaller.  At least 2 communities needed to be evacuated.

I don’t know if all of these fires were started from a campfire, but it happens every year. People just don’t realize what that tiny campfire can do when it gets out of control.  And it can happen quickly.  Be careful with fires of any kind.  True the forest does come back. In about 80 to 100 years in this area.  That’s a long time.

Sorry for this little rant of mine today.  Happens sometimes.  Probably due to my love for this natural world that God has given us.  We should take care of it.  Not destroy it.  Enjoy it.  Don’t kill it.  Leave it so others can also enjoy it, for a long time.  I hope that everyone has a very enjoyable weekend and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

© 2019 Steve McLeod.