An Innocent Victim of a Fire Pit
Remembering Aliaa
When we hear or read about a tragedy of a person violently dying, we are shocked and saddened. We ask why and how could this have happened. Could it have been prevented? Aliaa did not have to die so young, but, she did and did so horribly. Aliaa was the young girl that was so severely burned by her father’s action with an outdoor fire pit that she died.
When a child dies because of another person's habit to burn in a fire pit, we are left in absolute disbelief that this could even be possible. But, sadly it is possible because towns and elected officials have been apathetic, unwise, or indifferent not to Ban all outdoor open fires and Woodburning fire pits, fire pots, fireplaces and chimeneas, etc.
We must see this tragedy revealed for what it is—unneeded, unnecessary and preventable. This week in Lenox Township, Michigan, USA, a little 6 year old girl was seriously injured in a needless action with a fire pit. According to the Detroit newspapers, after suffering burns to 90 percent of her body, Aliaa Al-Shara died in the hospital.
This tragic death of Aliaa will be forever etched in our memory. What child should have to pay the price with their life because of being exposed to the grave dangers and use of fire pits, fire rings, bon fires, chimineas, outdoor fire places and all outdoor open air burning? Our cities must take immediate action to end all outdoor open air burning, no exceptions. Aliaa could be your daughter, granddaughter or a friend. The harsh reality is that people are reckless, and the need to burn overshadows the beauty and value of a human life.
Aliaa’s death should bring attention to the world that outdoor open air fires are not safe. They can be deadly weapons. They do grave harm to children. They do take life. They destroy entire families. Other children have suffered extensive and severe burns from fire pits and outdoor open air burning. Breathing Woodsmoke will harm and even kill you. Now is the time to demand that your city take action to BAN all outdoor open air burns. Your efforts will save many, many lives. Take action to make sure that never again will another child die from the use of a fire pit. Keep the memory of a 6 year old girl, Aliaa, alive.
Recently, in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the fire that destroyed 159 homes was started by an outdoor fire pit. How many more homes and lives must be destroyed by these and other outdoor Wood Burning devices of deaths before they are banned?
Aliaa’s life will not have been in vain if we Ban all Outdoor open burning in every city, community, village and town. We must all reach out and do everything possible to save the lives of other children. Do it for your children. Do it to honour and remember Aliaa.
By---Linda Baker Beaudin
Founder, Air is Precious
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Web master note---Aliaa Al-Shara's body was burned 90-100% per Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel. Aliaa died on Wednesday, September 22, 2010. This sad and unnecessary death happened in Lenox Township, Michigan, USA. Let's ban fire pits and all other outdoor wood burning. As stated in the letter above, let's do it to honour the memory of Aliaa.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)