Editor:
I live in Roberts Creek surrounded by forest, and for the last three years I’ve had a growing concern about the threat of forest fires on the Coast. The fire in Sechelt brought some of those fears to reality.
My anxiety grows every time I cut the lawn and pick up the discarded cigarette butts that litter the road at the front of my property and the back perimeter along the golf course. Despite the media coverage and the warnings about throwing cigarette butts in dry weather, it still happens. You have to wonder what kind of moron throws a cigarette butt into a dry forest. There are no words to describe this level of ignorance and disrespect. The conditions are so dry that my home would be engulfed in flames within minutes, and for that matter the entire area. With the present situation in B.C., I wonder if we would even have the manpower to fight such a blaze, and what about evacuation on a large scale? How would that happen? There’s no bridge or road off the Coast.
It’s frightening to think that just one moron of this magnitude has the power to destroy my home, my most precious possessions and my quality of life and possibly a large part of the Coast.
North Vancouver and Richmond have posted smoking bans in parks and trails during the dry weather. I think the Coast should follow and extend that to include golf courses and beaches. Even better, I think a smoking ban should be in effect all year. I would like to see an actual bylaw making it an offence to throw cigarette butts anywhere, anytime. I’m sick and tired of it.
Contact your SCRD representative and let them know how you feel.
Kim Reid, Roberts Creek
