TRASH: Friend of the fire

I am writing in response to the opinion from Ralph D. Shay (Tubbs Hill: Pick up trash, July 7).

Kudos to him for picking up trash. It is unfortunate not everyone picks up trash. Littering is illegal and bad for the environment. I suppose littering could also give some wildfires trash to spread onto.

Imagine if a fire spread onto a pile of trash on the ground. Most trash wouldn’t be heat resistant. Sacks and containers made of plastic would melt. Paper sacks and cardboard would easily catch fire. A wildfire burning trash would leave behind debris to clean up after the wildfire is contained.

This could be avoided simply by putting trash in a trash can or a dumpster. We all need to do that.

I try to make the property around my home less flammable by collecting trash and taking it to the dumpster.

MARGARET FRAZIER

Fernwood