A picture of a red fox with a scorched tail and lower legs is being used by a Cape Breton fire department to drive home the risks of unnecessary grass fires.

The grainy picture was shot last month in North Sydney, roughly two kilometres away from the Marine Atlantic ferry terminal.

"It touches your heartstrings to see that," said Lloyd MacIntosh, chief of North Sydney Fire & Rescue.

"Especially when it's unnecessary — completely unnecessary — and didn't need to happen."