Okay, for some reason I love that when I open this story it just starts off with this perfectly beautiful line:
One person has been fined $600 after an explosive gender reveal party near Fort McMurray sparked a wildfire.
I know this is a completely normal way to start an article, but I cannot seem to get myself over it.
I feel like it's perfect.
Or maybe just this entire story is perfect:
So apparently this method of gender reveal is pretty popular, and this is the third time it's started a wildfire in Alberta this year.
Rewind: THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THREE WILDFIRES CAUSED BY GENDER REVEAL PARTIES IN ALBERTA THIS YEAR.
This particular fire started in the Fort McMurray Forest Protection Area on Memorial Day.
The cause? An exploding target.
The discs, often loaded with coloured powder, detonate when struck by a projectile, such as a bullet…
"When you fire a round at them and it connects, it creates a small explosion... Especially in dry conditions, that initial explosion can create some heated debris…and when that hits the ground, it can simmer and certainly start a wildfire."
The fire burned up half a hectare, which is roughly one and a quarter acres, which is something, I guess, but I wish they'd just say "football field."
Alberta Wildfire put out this statement since humans are growing incapable of common sense:
What's worse: The province is seeing an increase in human-caused fires. The five-year average percentage of wildfires caused by humans is 68%. Last year the number was 88%. This year, 76%.
So come on people: It's exciting to find out your baby's gender, but wildfires aren't cool.
