If you think a wild fire can’t start in your neighbourhood, think again.
I was perturbed to see on social media that someone threw a lit cigarette butt on the grass of a local business. Luckily the owner smelt cigarette smoke and prevented a disaster.
This week a palm tree caught on fire on one of our city boulevards. Thanks to the quick action of two women, who used their water bottles to douse the palm, it didn’t ignite before fire fighters arrived.
Signs are appearing on our dykes and public spaces warning people of fire danger. Delta’s danger rating is at high, but will soon be extreme.
There’s a new mantra coming from the B.C. Minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma, “Stay calm, be alert and be prepared".
Ma recommends having an emergency grab bag no matter where you live, because the hot dry weather has only begun.
It’s frightening that B.C. Wildfire Service do not have the capacity to battle all the wildfires burning in our province, which is over 325 and growing rapidly.
Also disheartening is that 42 percent of those wild fires are human caused. We can do better.
Added to the stress is the drought conditions in the lower mainland. Expect stricter water restrictions as we head into late summer. Please abide by them, for the firefighters sake.
So how did the heat become our enemy? Two months of glorious summer weather was always the payoff after endless wet winter nights here on the west coast.
Carefree summer days are being replaced by anxiety over our climate crisis.
Our planet is stressed, but we can all play a part by taking action that puts what’s best for the environment first.
Meanwhile I’ll try to focus on the positive, with more beach time, slower days and lots of ice cream.
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer who yearns for the sweet smell of the ground after a rainfall.
