While at the outset, 2015 seemed like a less eventful year for fires and motor vehicle collisions locally, in fact, this fire season came in with a roar, as Fort McMurray’s wildfire became the costliest insured disaster in Canadian history at $3.58 billion.
News of the disaster spread quickly throughout Canada and the world as people watched dumbfounded and with horror of the images of families and animals alike fleeing the burning brush. But Albertans felt it the most keenly, as this was our backyard, and these were our people.
Perhaps it was this event that forced us all to be a little more careful about letting loose stray sparks from quads or cigarettes, or dousing fires more thoroughly, or not leaving burning brush piles unattended, as St. Paul Fire Department noted 2015 saw a quieter season both in terms of responding to fires as well as vehicle collisions. One can hope that’s a trend that continues.
Whether local fire departments’ seasons are filled with one back-to-back call after another or going days without answering a call, we are fortunate to have men and women that take the responsibility to look after their communities, whether it’s in a larger town like St. Paul or in smaller villages like Mallaig and Ashmont.
We, as rural people, recognize the gift of their volunteer time, but must also give credit to their employers and families, who give them the latitude to answer the call of duty at any time of the day or night.
A small favour in repayment, then, is for people to make sure they do their part in preventing fires, whether it’s turning off space heaters in empty rooms or at night, staying in the kitchen while cooking, cleaning out fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, not overloading wall sockets and as this year’s theme, “Don’t Wait, Check the Date,” suggests – ensuring you have a working smoke alarm for your home.
