The end of the school year, the blooming of poplar trees and too much idle time are blending together to create a string of small fires in St. Albert.
Since Tuesday, fire crews have extinguished 11 fires in local ravines and parks. The fuzz on poplar trees ignites easily, burns quickly and has become a regular problem.
Les Mroz, the chief safety and training officer with the St. Albert Fire Department, said conditions have favoured firefighters in these blazes to date, but there is a chance it could become a serious problem.
“Most of them are the nuisance variety. Luckily we have had that rain so everything is growing,” she said. “Our fear is that if it does light up a fence or a shed or if they are bordering a garage, it is just amazing how combustible it is.”
Mroz said the minor fires are a problem because they draw resources away from more important issues. He said when a fire truck responds to an emergency like this, there is also a risk of a more serious situation requiring their response.
“The boys are out chasing these things and just the response itself could jeopardize quickly when you are running to the scene.”
Mroz said the fires are clearly being set deliberately, likely by teens.
“Some of the people who have called it in are hearing the kids in there saying things and then taking off.”
He said it might be a good idea for parents to keep a closer watch on their children while this is going on stressing that, while minor, these fires could cause real problems.
