KLEIN: Assiniboine Forest prevention costs less than regret later

Winnipeg has been fortunate. Despite dry summers, heat waves, and strong prairie winds, we’ve never seen a major fire tear through the Assiniboine Forest. But that good fortune can’t be mistaken for good planning. Anyone who walks those trails can see how dense the underbrush has become and how much dry material lies waiting for a spark. We can’t play with fire — and that’s exactly what we’re doing if we continue to ignore the warning signs.

The Assiniboine Forest is one of the largest urban forests in Canada — more than 700 acres of natural escape inside city limits. It’s a treasure, no question, but it’s also an unmanaged fire risk. When dead trees, dry grass, and thick undergrowth build up year after year, they create the perfect conditions for a wildfire. One lightning strike or carel