The vast majority of forest fires recorded on the island of Newfoundland are caused by human activity.

That’s why the Department of Forestry is reminding people of outdoor fire safety as the summer forest fire season officially gets underway.

The Supervisor of Forest Protection with the provincial government, Jeff Motty, says many of the fires in Labrador, especially those away from inhabited areas, are caused by lightening strikes, but on the island, it’s a different story.

While certain activity, like intentionally setting a fire to clear brush, or failing to properly put out a campfire, might be an obvious cause of a forest fire, Motty says some are caused through negligence.

Like flicking a cigarette butt out, or leaving a glass bottle on the forest floor. He says some fires are caused by spontaneous combustion by sunlight heating up, or being magnified by, the glass of a discarded bottle. He also cites dirt that’s heated up on an ATV and catching dry grass or leaves.