The Fort McMurray fires are back in the news thanks to a pair of reports that were critical of the province’s intercommunication between emergency services during last year’s blaze that forced the evacuation of over 90,000 people.
And once again, the blame game is on.
A great deal of reporting has been directed to the province holding the report until the spring session of the Legislature had closed, but the issues listed in the report could have happened anywhere in the province, including here.
So far, there have been three grass fires reported in Westlock County — this despite wetter-than-normal conditions. If a grass fire can start in these conditions, they can start anywhere.
The report itself highlights some serious operational changes that the government now says they will be implementing, which is a good thing. Some of the recommendations, such as having all emergency services on the same radio frequency seem like no-brainers.
Though to be fair, hindsight is always 20/20 and scathingly accurate.
With over 2,500 homes lost, people have a right to know how the situation was handled. The province should have released the report when it first received it and taken the heat. Not doing so has given the image of politicians with something to hide.
However, it is far too easy to throw all the blame on one source. The circumstances surrounding the fire, a single cigarette butt as suggested in a prior analysis, is a strong reminder that yes, a blaze could happen here. Although Westlock isn’t surrounded by pine trees whose needles exploded like they did in Wood Buffalo, grass fires and a strong wind would be just as devastating here.
This is just another reminder that the person causing the fire is usually not the one who ends up dealing with the consequences. Campfires that are not properly extinguished become the problem of the camp’s caretakers, or even a fire department. A cigarette thrown out a car window becomes the problem of someone down the road.
Fire safety is not just basic common sense. We are all responsible to each other so put out your fire.
Smokey the Bear was right — only you can prevent forest fires.
