RAINER'S RAMBLINGS
Careless people
By RAINER ARNOLD Union Sentinel Publisher

I was driving down the road the other day and there was a car in front of me with about 4 or 5 people in it. They were having fun and talking and not doing the speed limit. That of course irritated me. At least they could do the speed limit. Then suddenly a cigarette butt came flying out the window and hit the ground with sparks flying all over the place.

I thought that those people are very careless. After all, there is a burn ban in Georgia. Now, I know they did not burn anything but just think if those sparks that were flying from the cigarette but had gotten to the edge of the road and grass. Itcouldhavecausedafire. Itcouldhavecaused a lot of damage and a lot of money in fighting that fire.

So, now you you think I am exaggerating. But really, I am not. Many fires have been cause by a harmless cigarette butt.

But things get worse. Also, as I was driving home from an event recently, there was a group of people parked by the lake and they had a fire going. Again there were sparks flying and one of them could just as easily started a fire. I mean just because the fire is near a lake does not guarantee that it would not start or could not start a fire.

And, how long do you think it might be before they call the fire department and turn themselves in for starting the fire. I think they would just quickly pack up and go and let the fire burn. After all, who wants the blame for setting a fire?

So, these are just a couple of examples of how careless people could start a fire that could turn into something major. I know, the likelihood of it all is slim. But, you can't be too careful. Just think about those fires in south Georgia. We suffered the smoke damage up here in the mountains 400 miles away.

So, folks, be a little more careful about your cigarette butts and your fires by the lake and don't burn your trash.