Forest Fires

Living in British Columbia, Canada for the last 4 years, you get to know all about forest fires. Forest fires are a threat that we live with each hot, dry summer that we have.

I live in the Okanagan Valley which is home to Canada's only desert area. Our summers and hot and dry. We barely get humidity here.

It is a constant occurence to see water-bombers fly overhead, carrying water and fire retardant to neighbouring cities that might be on fire.

In 2003, we had the worst forest fires in this area. I did not live here in 2003. I moved here in 2005. In 2004, I vacationed for the summer here and did see a forest fire in Valemont, BC about two hours north from where I live now.

This year, 2009, there is a forest fire burning in the Lilloot, BC area which is about two hours northwest of where I live. There is a forest fire burning in West Kelowna, BC which is about two hours southeast of here and there is a forest fire burning in Fintry, BC, which is about an hour southeast of here.

Here in Kamloops, BC, the city I live in, it is very dry here. You can hear the grass crackle under your feet as you walk in the mountains. Our fire hazard level is extreme rght now. It would not take much to start a massive forest fire in this area.

I think of all the fire fighters that have to fight the fires at this time of year. They are already working in temperatures of almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit and then add to that the heat of the fires that they are fighting. I feel really sorry for these men and women.

Some homes have had to be evacuated this year because of forest fires. Some of them were given only a moments notice, having to leave behind valuables and their pets. It is a very difficult ordeal to have to go through.

In this extreme heat, it is so easy to start a forest fire. We all have to be so careful. Forest fires have been started by careless smokers and careless campers leaving campfires unattended. We all need to take care and make sure we aren't responsible for starting a forest fire.