Drug addicts are playing a major role in the tragic death and destruction taking place in Texas and Oklahoma.
Officials claim
Severe drought set the stage for the fires, which authorities believe were started mostly by people shooting off fireworks, tossing cigarettes or burning trash in spite of bans imposed because of the drought. A fallen power line apparently started one Oklahoma blaze.
According to
ABC News,
By the time the smoke cleared Wednesday, more than 100 homes across wildfire-stricken Texas and Oklahoma lay in ruins and at least five people were dead, including two elderly women trapped in their homes by the flames.
While some fire causes are totally understandable (drought) if not patriotic (fireworks), some were stupid and environmentally irresponsible (burning trash). What is most disturbing is the role played by drug addiction (tossing cigarettes). And it isn't just Texas and Oklahoma the drug addicts are destroying.
According to Science Daily, tobacco junkies are the
leading cause of fire disaster and death worldwide, costing over $27 billion yearly.
We can only hope Federal and State law enforcement will track down and punish these dangerous drug addicts and their suppliers.