Mandy Webb has been a Colwood resident for roughly 26 years, but recently sheB次元官网网址檚 witnessed a couple of wildifres that really stand out.
Her Clement Road property is near Allandale Pit. B次元官网网址淲e almost back right onto the open space,B次元官网网址� she noted.
ItB次元官网网址檚 an area thatB次元官网网址檚 a popular spot for many residents to go for a stroll or take their dogs for a walk.
In fact, Webb noted, she walks through the area almost daily.
It was on one of those recent walks that she discovered something that concerned her. B次元官网网址淲ithin about 50 yards I found about 20 [cigarette butts], after that I gave up, I was so disgusted,B次元官网网址� she said.
Noticing that the cigarettes looked like they had been discarded fairly recently, Webb was concerned that they might spark another fire, especially since the area is so dry right now.
Last year she noted Colwood Fire Rescue was called to the area for a brush fire and roughly five years ago crews had to respond to a significant fire in the area.
B次元官网网址淚t came almost up to the properties B次元官网网址� It was huge,B次元官网网址� she recalled, adding some of the fire damage can still be seen.
The memories of those fires coupled with the extremely dry conditions sparked a desire to do something. So Webb reached out to see if the fire department could post signs in the area reminding residents not to discard their cigarette butts.
But thatB次元官网网址檚 not as simple as it seems.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 actually private property and we canB次元官网网址檛 trespass unless thereB次元官网网址檚 an emergency,B次元官网网址� said Colwood Fire Chief John Cassidy.
However, the City does own an easement in the area, which is patrolled regularly by the department and Colwood bylaw officers. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been very active with patrols,B次元官网网址� he added.
While the department has stepped up its patrols in all areas that have been a concern in the past, Cassidy noted residents are also stepping up and have been more alert.
B次元官网网址淭he more people that are out and around, the more small fires are caught earlier,B次元官网网址� he said, adding thatB次元官网网址檚 key to preventing them from spreading.
He pointed to the recent fire at Royal Roads University. A oasserby smelt the smoke, found the small blaze and alerted the department right away before it turned into a major incident.
Cassidy noted Colwood and View Royal have also been working to remove bark mulch from medians and that seems to have helped reduce the number of cigarette-caused fires theyB次元官网网址檝e responded to this summer.
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