So we finally received some much-needed rain, and the Rocky Forest Area’s wildfire danger was last week brought down to “low” from “high” while the fire advisory was lifted as of Wednesday, May 30.
But that does not for one second mean we should throw caution into the wind and start lighting up massive bonfires.
Sundre’s fire Chief Marty Butts recently said volunteer firefighters were called out to a scene where a campfire was left smouldering unattended.
“Some people just don’t get it,” he said.
“The fire was in a pit, but they just walked away from it.”
Provincial officials with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry urge campers to “stir it, soak it, and stir it again” and add that a fire is not completely out until no heat is emanating from the ashes.
“If you can’t put your hand on it, it ain’t out,” says Butts.
Although a fire in a contained pit generally does over time extinguish itself, the chief said there always exists the very real possibility of a wind gust reigniting and spreading the blaze into nearby bushes and trees.
“That’s often how forest fires start.”
So Butts urges everyone who intends to make a campfire to ensure the blaze is completely extinguished before leaving.
“You light it, you put it out. Don’t walk away from it — even if it’s contained in a pit.”
We cannot allow ourselves to become complacent by walking away from a campfire assuming that it will simply go out on its own.
“It’s disappointing with everything that’s happened in B.C., Fort Mac, Slave Lake, and Waterton to still have this kind of irresponsible behaviour.”
I really could not agree more.
Of course I also sort of cannot help but to feel as though I’m preaching to the choir writing a column such as this.
Presumably, people who could not care any less about the mess they leave behind in their wake following a campout probably are not likely to flip through the pages of a newspaper seeking a new perspective that might change their minds.
Meanwhile, readers who peruse my columns are more than likely already responsible recreational land users.
So perhaps more than anything else, this is a reminder to the responsible land users to keep their eyes peeled and to report infractions as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, society tends to cater to the lowest common denominator, and all it would take to have the West Country closed off to the public in a government-sanctioned attempt to protect the environment is an irresponsible minority that ruins it for the rest of us.
So don’t take complaints to social media — inform the authorities.
To report a wildfire, call 310-FIRE, and to report abuse of the land, call either Report a Poacher at 1-800-642-3800 or alternatively Alberta Environment and Parks’ 24-hour hotline at 1-800-222-6514.
