It is always heartening to hear of small communities banding together to accomplish great feats.
Such was the case when regional fire departments and residents south of Athabasca near Willowridge Road banded together to put out a grass fire May 6.
The fire threatened a residence in the area, but thanks to the diligent efforts of firefighters and neighbours coming in to lend a helping hand, no damage was done to the building.
Firefighters from Rochester, the Town of Athabasca, Athabasca County and Colinton all attended the scene, as did neighbours rushing in to try and help stop the progress of the fire. They should all be commended for the job well done.
It is a strong example of the best of local communities, willing to lend a helping hand to one another when the need arises. For all our differences, in times of crisis – even relatively small ones – we unite in truly beautiful ways.
But this story is also an important reminder of some of people’s worse follies.
The fire was reportedly caused by a trailer on Highway 2 with a broken wheel, letting off sparks as it was driven along. Anyone can make a mistake, but if this is true, this is pretty awful as blunders go.
As with every spring and summer, human-caused blunders like this are going to spark tons of fires across the province and country. These fires will burn through thousands of hectares each year and cause all kinds of damage to forests, homes and livelihoods.
We all need to be diligent to ensure we are not the cause of a forest fire. Respect and obey fire bans. Take proper precautions with any burns or campfires. Ensure any spark-inducing machinery – including quads and ATVs – is used with proper care. Participate in FireSmart programs to reduce the vulnerability of the area around your home to spread a fire.
There are those courageous people who fight fires after they’re caused. We all need to be aware in preventing fires, too. Fire prevention is another thing that should unite us all and let us show off the best our communities have to offer.
