Well, the first BIG fire of the season must have occurred sometime over the weekend. I haven't been to FWG since last Thursday, so I don't know if any one else has a better idea of when this occurred. It was just to the north side of the semi-circle. As you can see from the photo, whoever was responsible went to a lot of work to get the site ready! They brought a large carpet, a piece of furniture - part of a cupboard, bureau..??? They clearly had a grand time hurling beer bottles and cans around the site because they were scattered all over. And they probably had an even better time smashing the bottles because there is a pile of broken glass in the fire remains.

I removed some of the big logs they used for the fire, picked up all the bottles I could find, filled a plastic bag with them and took them with me, and piled the rest up on top of the carpet which I hauled down to the service road, along with the board. I meant to go back for the rest of the bottles after my walk but I forgot. I also found the carpet too heavy to carry. But I don't want to leave it there, in case these bright young things think they've set up a permanent campsite and expect to find the carpet there when they return (as they well might).

I can't help but think of the energy and determination with which security chases dog owners to leash their dogs, when the real problem from my point of view, is the issue of fires. Most of you have seen the scorched white pine, which appears to be turning browner with each day, it seems. Some of you remember when the previous bird feeder was taken down and burned. Many of you know about the countless beer bottles and cans that we remove from the site, left there courtesy of the students. A few may recall when the entire interpretive centre was sprayed with graffiti. And so on and on it goes.... One of these days, a fire is going to get completely out of hand. Or someone (human or animal) is going to get a nasty cut from the broken glass that some party goers think is fun to bury in the soil so only the tops are left to do damage, etc. etc.