Fort Mac Wildfire Thread

[4X4]

Originally Posted by worth

I'm guessing cigarette butt. Fire started right on the side of the highway heading out of town, there was no lightning in the area at the time of the fire. Definitely man made.

I hope this leads to a draconian crackdown on cigarette butts out the window. Make the fine $10,000, and get the RCMP and city police services go ape-sh#t on it. Dash cam footage and just calls from citizens reporting a plate should garner a phone call from the local police telling the plate owner that they've been warned.

It pisses me off when I see people do that. Even when I smoked I kept one of those $4 butt cups in my cupholder. If you're too cheap for that, just use a pop can. Seriously. Drives me crazy. Last spring I was driving toward Bragg Creek, and after the non winter we had, it bush was tinder dry. The guy in front of me flicked his butt out the window. Just absolutely mind-numbingly stupid. I wanted to call the RCMP, but I doubted they'd do anything about it, so I just hated him from my truck.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I hope this leads to a draconian crackdown on cigarette butts out the window. Make the fine $10,000, and get the RCMP and city police services go ape-sh#t on it. Dash cam footage and just calls from citizens reporting a plate should garner a phone call from the local police telling the plate owner that they've been warned.

It pisses me off when I see people do that. Even when I smoked I kept one of those $4 butt cups in my cupholder. If you're too cheap for that, just use a pop can. Seriously. Drives me crazy. Last spring I was driving toward Bragg Creek, and after the non winter we had, it bush was tinder dry. The guy in front of me flicked his butt out the window. Just absolutely mind-numbingly stupid. I wanted to call the RCMP, but I doubted they'd do anything about it, so I just hated him from my truck.

There was a video on Twitter I believe of some guy throwing out a lit cigarette butt out of their pick up truck, while they were evacuating from Fort McMurray and at a safer location...

Cigarette butts was found to be the cause of the Lac La Biche fires, and the cause of 4 houses burning down in Fort McMurray last year.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Has anyone seen stories on how this fire started?

A Uof A professor who is supposedly an expert said that it was almost certainly manmade (as someone else said, no lightning in the area when the fire started).

They said that about 50% of forest fires/wild fires are manmade and about 47% are caused from lightning. They didn't say what the other 3% is, but I am guessing natural from compost.

I just hope it wasn't arson.

[V]

The other 3% is probably power lines. We just had a fire start on the acreage across the road last night when a tree fell on an overhead power line. Scary stuff, with everything going on.

[blueski]

What amazes me about the fire is that it was only 4 hectares when it was discovered. Apparently they had 4 water bombers on it almost right after that. Yet it still grew to the size it did with continuous efforts to put it out.

[habernac]

Heard a shout out from Marc Maron on the WTF podcast for the wildfire, we're getting offers of help from the Russians and the Mexicans, it was front page news on London late last week, I'm floored at how many people know about this.

[Bootsy]

Originally Posted by habernac

Heard a shout out from Marc Maron on the WTF podcast for the wildfire, we're getting offers of help from the Russians and the Mexicans, it was front page news on London late last week, I'm floored at how many people know about this.

Yes a ton of international help was offered , looks like we don't require it though.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2689492/tr..._campaign=2016

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by 4X4

It pisses me off when I see people do that. Even when I smoked I kept one of those $4 butt cups in my cupholder. If you're too cheap for that, just use a pop can. Seriously. Drives me crazy. Last spring I was driving toward Bragg Creek, and after the non winter we had, it bush was tinder dry. The guy in front of me flicked his butt out the window. Just absolutely mind-numbingly stupid. I wanted to call the RCMP, but I doubted they'd do anything about it, so I just hated him from my truck.

Maybe it's location and situation dependent but the RCMP here told someone who called in with info about a cigarette butt flicker a few days ago, that they're taking it seriously and said they would be visiting with the guy here, who'd tossed his butt. I assume he's getting fined.

[Northendzone]

I find it stunning that smokers continue to toss their butts out of the window with very little regard for the overall environmental impact their actions.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by habernac

Heard a shout out from Marc Maron on the WTF podcast for the wildfire, we're getting offers of help from the Russians and the Mexicans, it was front page news on London late last week, I'm floored at how many people know about this.

I'm in London. The fire is and has been big news here. Everyone I speak to asks me about it and if I have friends or family affected by the fire.

There is huge sympathy for what has happened and in a UK and Ireland hockey FB page I'm a member of, others have asked for details of how to donate and some have gone on to do so.

[Engine09]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I find it stunning that smokers continue to toss their butts out of the window with very little regard for the overall environmental impact their actions.

Makes no sense, their vehicle already smells like #### from the smoke, a few butts in a can or ashtray won't make a difference. In the very least it's littering, at the very worst it's what we've been seeing over the past week.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Maybe it's location and situation dependent but the RCMP here told someone who called in with info about a cigarette butt flicker a few days ago, that they're taking it seriously and said they would be visiting with the guy here, who'd tossed his butt. I assume he's getting fined.

When it's a traffic offense they will charge you if the witness is willing to testify. I have a friend who got a ticket for running a stop sign this way. A couple years ago I made a bad move on a highway and got a warning call from the RCMP.

Most people don't call because they don't think it will get action but the police don't mind actioning calls.

[habernac]

Evacuation order was issued for Janvier with Conklin on the standby, these have been summarily cancelled.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I find it stunning that smokers continue to toss their butts out of the window with very little regard for the overall environmental impact their actions.

It's really amazing how many people do it knowing it's a $1000.00 fine, go on any highway at night and it looks like a bunch of firefly's dancing.

[llwhiteoutll]

Anyone know how this kind of thing is covered by employment law? Was reading something the other day that says employers can lay off with no notice or severance if the lack of work is created by a situation beyond their control, even if their employees remain able and willing to work.

I know Suncor and Syncrude are paying their people who were evacuated, but I'm sure there are tons who are now effectively without work.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Bootsy

Yes a ton of international help was offered , looks like we don't require it though.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2689492/tr..._campaign=2016

Wow those comments are ridiculous.

People actually believe that Trudeau made this call on his own? Like how ####ing brain dead do you have to be to think this decision was made without consulting the actual emergency responders and people leading the efforts.

God and these people vote. What is wrong with the world.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

Makes no sense, their vehicle already smells like #### from the smoke, a few butts in a can or ashtray won't make a difference. In the very least it's littering, at the very worst it's what we've been seeing over the past week.

As a former smoker I disagree. Exhaled smoke isn't nearly as bad as the smoldering butts and just plain old butts. They make smokeless ashtrays for a reason.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by polak

Wow those comments are ridiculous.

People actually believe that Trudeau made this call on his own? Like how ####ing brain dead do you have to be to think this decision was made without consulting the actual emergency responders and people leading the efforts.

God and these people vote. What is wrong with the world.

Not only ridiculous, but infuriating as well. My facebook feed is full of the same type of comments today. Based on what I see, looks like peoples focus has changed from helping those in need, to laying false blame and using this for political running of the mouth.

[Canuck-Hater]

Originally Posted by polak

Wow those comments are ridiculous.

People actually believe that Trudeau made this call on his own? Like how ####ing brain dead do you have to be to think this decision was made without consulting the actual emergency responders and people leading the efforts.

God and these people vote. What is wrong with the world.

Its insane. My facebook is littered with this nonsense as well.

[Leondros]

Originally Posted by T@T

As a former smoker I disagree. Exhaled smoke isn't nearly as bad as the smoldering butts and just plain old butts. They make smokeless ashtrays for a reason.

Too bad then, have a smelly car - people who smoke already smell like ash trays, why not their cars.

Either buy one of those butt holders or live with a smelly car.