In his encyclical, Pope Francis says little about fire, except to quote the words of St Francis from the Canticle of the Creatures : Praise be to you, my Lord, for brother fire, with which you light up the night, and he is beautiful and joyful, and robust and strong".

Fire may be a brotherly thing when it lights and illuminates and helps to cook food, but it can be destructive when it gets out of hand and causes devastating fires.

For some years now, our planet has been affected by repeated fires that occur during the hottest season : summer. Summer starts earlier and earlier and ends later and later, leaving no room for Spring and Autumn…

In February, major fires began in Chile, and then the countries of the northern hemisphere were affected, in particular the great forests of Canada and Siberia. By the time you read this, more than 10 million hectares will have burnt in Canada. The smoke from these fires will have affected the air, causing unbearable pollution in major cities such as Montreal and New York.

These disasters have displaced thousands of people, who do not know when they will be able to return to their homes and whether they will still be standing… Wildlife is also affected, with animals trying to flee the advancing flames, but some are unable to do so and are trapped by the fire. Migratory birds and endemic species are affected by the smoke, which dangerously alters their lungs.

But there is a great deal of solidarity between the countries : firefighters from different countries (South Africa, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, South Korea, etc.) have arrived to reinforce the teams who need a rest. This is unprecedented aid, and it is a precious help for Canada.

Perhaps one day we will be among those affected by the forest fires, so a few simple steps can help us not to panic :

Prevention :

• Do not install plastic gutters or downpipes.
• Fit your chimney flue with a screen to prevent embers from entering.
• Do not store your fuel reserves (wood, fuel oil, butane) next to the house.
• Do not burn during the fire ban period (generally between April and September) or in strong winds.
• If you have a swimming pool, make it accessible to the fire brigade.
• Do not plant any vegetation near the openings to your home and prune any trees that shade your home. Don’t leave any branches within 3 m of the house.

The right reflexes to adopt

Weather conditions are increasingly conducive to fire, but 9 out of 10 fires could be avoided by being more vigilant and taking a few simple steps :

• Are you a smoker ? Put your cigarette ends in ashtrays. If you smoke in your car, be careful of the glowing ashes that can fly out of an open window.
• Cutting vegetation in your garden ? Take your green waste to the waste collection centre instead of burning it at home.
• Do you like fireworks ? Let the professionals organise them for everyone to enjoy.
• Are you organising a barbecue ? Do it at home or in a dedicated area on a terrace, rather than out in the open and away from undergrowth that can catch fire.
• Do you store wood or gas outside ? Keep them away from the walls of your house and, if possible, put them in a shelter.

The campaign on undergrowth clearance obligations

Clearing undergrowth helps to reduce the impact of fires, protect oneself and one’s property, protect the forest and facilitate fire-fighting. All areas around buildings located in or near forests (within a 200 m perimeter) must be cleared of undergrowth for a distance of 50 m, regardless of property boundaries. Private access roads must also be cleared of undergrowth on both sides to a width of 10 m. Following these operations, the waste must be cleared up, as when dry it becomes a dangerous combustible.

In the event of a fire

Around your home :

• Water the area around your house and the facades, and keep a hose that you can use after the fire.
• Park your vehicles with the windows closed on the side facing away from the fire.
• Leave your gate open to facilitate access by emergency services.
• Close all shutters, chimney draught excluders, windows, air vents and ventilators. Place wet cloths at the bottom of doors.
• Put a damp cloth over your nose and mouth to protect yourself from the fumes. Choose cotton clothing.
• Do not evacuate unless instructed to do so by the fire brigade or the police.

By car :

• If you can, look for a clear place to park.
• If the fire front crosses the road, take shelter in your vehicle, close the windows and turn on your lights so that you are visible to emergency services.

On foot :

• Look for a protective screen such as a rock or wall.
• Place a damp cloth over your nose and mouth to protect yourself from the fumes.
• If you see a fire starting, alert your local emergency services and try to pinpoint the location of the fire.

Sr Catherine Grasswill UdJ Canada