The fires in Fort McMurray seem far away to many local residents, but the dangers lurk in the underbrush along the trails that snake through many St. Albert neighbourhoods. St. Albert is not surrounded by boreal forests, like the ones that put Fort McMurray in the centre of an inferno. However, urban areas, with a mix of wooded park areas and housing like St. Albert has its own hazards with dry grass, deadfall and other debris along many trails and yards.
Many residents of the Grandin neighbourhood saw that hazard erupt into flames twice this week when separate fires struck wild spaces in the Grandin ravine and near Albert Lacombe School. Prompt reports and quick acting city fire crews extinguished both blazes before they spread to the school or area houses. But what if the fires had occurred at night? What if the fires had been fanned by winds and caught the dry deadfall along many trails?
Every fire needs fuel, and an ignition source. Many St. Albert trails and yards are ripe with fuel: littered with very dry deadfall, grasses and other debris. A carelessly discarded cigarette butt or a lightning strike could start a fire along many city trails. We need to take immediate action to remove the fuel that could feed a fire that could threaten our homes.
The City of St. Albert, individual neighbourhoods and residents need to work together to eliminate the accumulation of dead wood and dry grass and debris that could catch fire. The annual city river clean up has been successful in cleaning up trash from the riverbanks. A similar campaign could have the city, individual neighbourhoods, and residents work together to eliminate the fire hazards.
FireSmart Canada says successful fire protection requires communities, industry and individuals to reduce fire hazards, raise awareness and plan for fire occurrences. The City of St. Albert clears deadfall from some public spaces, but perhaps the city needs to brush out the deadfall that clogs some ravines.
The City of St. Albert is encouraging its citizens to reduce potential fire hazards by cleaning debris from their yards. Rake your leaves; gather the poplar fluff; move your wood pile away from your house, fence and trees; and pick up garbage. Don’t extinguish cigarettes in planters or potted plants since peat in soil can smoulder for hours before igniting a fire. Don’t flick cigarette butts in the park or from vehicles since they can and have ignited fires.
You may not have an ignition source in your yard, but fire doesn’t respect boundaries. FireSmart Canada says even buildings at a distance from a wooded area can be at risk when wind carries embers from wildfires. That was true last weekend when embers from a fire in a small park in Edmonton ignited roofs three blocks away.
Protecting St. Albert from fire will demand each of us to be vigilant and do our part. Let’s not wait for fire to strike again.
