Québec is burning. And even though I live well to the south of the border, in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, I can smell the smoke on my doorstep. “Smell” is far too mild a word, in fact. The acrid haze now drifting down on a fitful breeze is strong enough to make my eyes water and my lungs burn. But this is nothing compared to the burning farther north, as flames consume tens of thousands of acres of boreal forest and doom many of the wild creatures who call those woodlands home, condemning them to horrific deaths.

Most—but not all—of the Qébec fires are attributed to lightning strikes, record heat, and high winds. Call these acts of God, if you will. But the fact remains that acts of man cause many wildfires. Fortunately, observing a few simple rules can prevent such tragedies. I’ve outlined those rules elsewhere, and I won’t repeat them here, but I’d urge caution on all backcountry travelers, at all times. Why bother, you ask? “If you doubt the necessity of following such irritating rules to the letter,” Colin Fletcher once wrote, “make yourself go and see the corpse of a recently burned forest.” Exactly.

That’s not the whole story, though. Perhaps the most important rule is this: Often it’s best to forego a campfire altogether. Just say no, in other words. It’s a small sacrifice, and the rewards are great. Today, only Québec is burning. But what of tomorrow?

 
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