"You wait until the forest fire is on your front step before you step up"

This quote by Peter Dawson is a metaphor for doing something about it in the face of a crisis. It suggests that people typically wait up until an issue is right in front of them before they act. This is an alerting to not wait until it is far too late to take action. It is a suggestion to be proactive and take actions to avoid a crisis from occurring in the very first place. It is likewise a tip to take action when a problem occurs, rather than waiting till it is far too late. This quote encourages individuals to be aware of prospective issues and to take actions to address them before they end up being too large to deal with. It is a reminder to be prepared and to act when essential.