Dear Editor:
Please inform the public that even though this week is not as hot as it has been, the forest fire dangers are still a reality.
On a recent overnight camping trip to Granite Falls at the top of Indian Arm, my friends and I were perturbed at the lack of judgement exercised by some fellow campers and by people who had just come to party.
The area has many signs - large yellow ones on trees and smaller ones on camping pads - stating that no fires are allowed in the park, but people just ignore them every time we are up there and build fires with flames as high as four to six feet.
It is quite concerning, especially now with the forests dry and no way to get a fire truck up there.
This past Saturday, the Coquitlam RCMP boat was up Indian Arm several times, and it is my understanding they put out several fires and gave out several tickets.
It was nice to see them up there, because no one thinks there is anyone to enforce the ban. I have seen park staff ask people over the years not to make fires or ask them to put them out, and all they get is grief.
We warned a group of drunken boaters who arrived late in the evening not to make a fire and that the cops were around. They ignored us and got a ticket later that evening for making a huge bonfire in the forest.
It would be good to let people know the cops do enforce the fires. Maybe it will make people think twice. I sure as heck don't want to jump into the ocean at 2 a.m. because of a forest fire caused by negligent people.
Amanda Lewis North Vancouver
