Earlier this week, haze settled over the cityscape and an air quality advisory was issued for residents across the Lower Mainland – all because of the wildfires that are blazing across the B.C. Interior.
If we’re not going to take fire warnings seriously now, then when will we?
The City of Burnaby has issued fire warnings for its parks – no charcoal barbecues are allowed in parks, and no smoking is permitted in any of its parks, trails or green spaces.
It should go without saying that it behooves us all to heed those warnings, but we’ll say it anyway.
Because every year, there has to be at least one idiot who thinks the warnings don’t apply to him.
Every year, there has to be one picnicker who figures her barbecue is the one that’s really the exception to the rule. Every year, there has to be one smoker who just carelessly discards a cigarette out a car window, or at the side of a trail while walking through the park.
Let’s try to make this year the one where we actually all pay attention and work cooperatively to make sure we don’t set anything else in B.C. on fire, shall we?
Let’s all agree to follow a few ground rules: Don’t smoke in the parks. Don’t throw your cigarette butt out your car window. And don’t fire up that barbecue in the park no matter how nice Saturday evening looks.
Got it?
And while we’re at it, let’s make sure we do our best to take care of those who need a little extra help during this period of bad air. Folks who are elderly or who have health conditions affecting their lungs or heart are at particular risk, so be sure to keep an eye out for neighbours, friends and family members who may need a help with the gardening or lawn mowing.
Keeping British Columbians safe isn’t just a job for the firefighters.
It’s a job for all of us.
