I’m big on irony.
I see irony in so many things, like when opposition parties that used to be in power and never sold a certain problem now lambaste a ruling party for not solving that same problem.
That’s one.
Some ironies are not so wonderful.
Like what happened to me recently as I drove through the forests of Mission looking for the site of a nasty fire that nearly ignited a group of trees.
I was driving through the Silverdale area after hearing about a fire in a barn that nearly blew up some propane tanks.
The fire was especially concerning because the forests are tinder-dry due to a depressing drought that’s meant I’ve been able to roll around in shorts and a T-shirt in the middle of October.
So a fire near a forest is a big deal.
That’s when the irony slapped me in the face because as I drove trying to find a fire, I witnessed some clown in the car approaching me flick a cigarette out his window.
Yes, despite all of the recent wildfires in West Vancouver, Coquitlam and Chilliwack, plus assorted grass fires all over Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, this idiot decided it was a good idea to flick his cigarette.
Irony really sucks sometimes.
So now I am forced to spend my precious time writing a column to actually tell supposed grownups to actually behave like grownups and not toss your darts out the window and onto dry grass so you don’t start a fire.
Sigh.
You also can’t set a campfire right now in Mission as the city still has a ban in place, although that apparently hasn’t stopped some people.
Look, we all have to pull together and be responsible adults right now until the rain hopefully arrives. I say this as we face yet another sunny and hot weekend.
With no rain in sight, Metro Vancouver is also encouraging residents and businesses to use less treated drinking water so that we can continue to meet the region’s needs.
“Our current water use is about 20-per-cent higher than normal for this time of year,” said Malcolm Brodie, chair of Metro Vancouver’s Water Committee, in a news release. “Our reservoir levels are lower than we typically see for this time of year, and this higher-than-expected water usage is leading to ongoing drawdown of our water storage reservoirs.”
Since Aug. 1, watershed areas have received approximately 50 millimetres of rain. On average, we typically see around 400 millimetres of precipitation between Aug. 1 and mid-October. Last season, watershed areas received over 650 millimetres of rain during this period.
RELATED: ‘Loud bang’: Mission firefighters battle barn blaze
So, yeah, that’s not good, despite all those extra days at the beach.
Cutting back tap water use both outdoors and indoors will help us better conserve the region’s precious treated drinking water for where it is needed most: cooking, cleaning, and drinking.
“Outdoors, refrain from watering your lawns and let them go golden and dormant,” says Metro Vancouver. “Indoors, simple actions such as turning off the tap while washing dishes and brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, running full loads of laundry, and using a normal, cold wash setting can produce tangible results.”
Now you have some basic tips on how to conserve water and how to not set a forest on fire with your stupidity.
@shinebox44
chris.campbell@missioncityrecord.com
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