The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) and ACT Policing are urging smokers to dispose of cigarette butts appropriately, especially during elevated fire danger weather forecast in the ACT over the next few days.
A TOTAL FIRE BAN is in place for the ACT until midnight with SEVERE fire danger conditions expected.
The ESA has received reports of people witnessing smokers throwing cigarette butts out of their car windows during the EXTREME fire danger we experienced in Canberra on Tuesday.
Smokers are strongly urged to not throw cigarette butts out of the window of a vehicle or anywhere which could spark a fire including footpaths, medium strips, sporting fields, grassed areas, gardens, reserves and bushland.
If a fire starts at the forecast fire danger level of SEVERE, it may become uncontrollable and move quickly.
If you witness someone throwing a cigarette butt out of the window of vehicle windows and a fire starts ring Emergency Triple Zero (000) immediately.
7:55 AM
[Courtesy ESA]
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That’ll be the day. The world is a smoker’s ashtray.
Why do people need to be “strongly urged to not throw cigarette butts out of the window of a vehicle”, are people really that stupid that they can’t work out for themselves that this is dangerous and irresponsible? Rhetorical question…
I’ve never understood the mindset of smokers who would never just throw their maccas wrappers out the window but see no problem/no link with throwing their butt out?
If it’s a TOTAL fire ban, surely that should apply to cigarettes? Why do smokers get an exemption?
it’d be nice if they issued more fines for smokers throwing butts out the window or littering the footpath with them
Felix the Cat said :
Lets be realistic, smokers are not the smartest group of people.
I read something the other day that said that the ACT would follow NSW with regulations to ban smoking at public places like bus stops, train stations etc. However it apparently will take up to four years to get it done, (why I don’t know). Good news as far as I’m concerned – it’s quite gross when someone sparks up at a bus shelter. I had a go at a woman the other week who lit up inside one of those newish glass shelters at Woden. She moved quick smart I can tell you – and she was probably in her 60′s and should have known better.
I’m contemplating also contacting my local Woolies or even the national office to suggest that they enforce a no littering rule for their employees. At my local Woolies the pathway is a disgrace where the checkout chicks congregate.
Anyone who throws a cigarette out of the window at any time should be charged with attempted arson or at the very least reckless behaviour endangering life.
It is quite odd the way that smokers don’t see it as littering.
“…. Smokers are strongly urged to not throw cigarette butts out of the window of a vehicle or anywhere which could spark a fire including footpaths, medium strips, sporting fields, grassed areas, gardens, reserves and bushland….”
So does that mean it’s OK if they throw their butss out the window in low risk areas?
switch said :
Unfortunately, you are spot on. It’s quite depressing to see the butts and other litter in the various alcoves near where smokers congregate outside buildings, etc.
Smokers who chuck their butts out the window without a thought for the consequences would surely have no problem if a passer-by decided to throw a stone through their back window either, would they? Neither could possibly be harmful at all…could they?
Smokers are strongly urged to not throw cigarette butts out of the window of a vehicle or anywhere which could spark a fire including footpaths, medium strips, sporting fields, grassed areas, gardens, reserves and bushland.
Oops, there’s the pesky ‘medium’ strips again. Are median strips ok? Big ones or small ones? (And don’t I feel good about being a non-smoker again, about 8 months now.)
Smokers don’t give a toss for themselves, do you really expect them to give a toss for anyone else?
Madam Cholet said :
Even unlit ones, presumably? If so, you’re a nutter. Anyway, I smoke a pipe now to avoid having to dispose of butts and to avoid having to give smokes to every bogan and his dog.
Guys, guys, you’ve missed the point! We have a “strip” here in Canberra! Granted it’s only a “medium” one, but better than a small one eh!
MsCheeky said :
Darn it, beat me to it.
DrKoresh said :
Well obviously a lit one given that this is what the post was originally about. Why would someone throw an unlit cigarette out of the car. Most smokers know how many they have at any one time and give them up reluctantly.
Pipes. Yikes. Do you smoke it around others, because they are quite foul. My dad used to partake on occasion so I have first hand experience of being enveloped in pipe fog. People smoking pipes look highly suspicious.
switch said :
+1. A more inconsiderate bunch you will not find.
Madam Cholet said :
Suspicious ? really? i had the image in my mind of Dr Koresh looking quite like Sherlock Holmes, interesting, and cool… not at all suspicious. – Was your father suspicious? heehe
Really hoping someone pipes up soon saying taxes on cigarettes help fund the Fire Brigade so they are entitled etc. Ive always liked that argument.
TheDancingDjinn said :
No, my father is just down right mad. He didn’t smoke a pipe when out and about, however I do sometimes see a chap crossing the road in the mornings on my way to work, and he definitely looks suspicious. And just a bit icky.
People smoking pipes look highly suspicious.
+1
Also, in the end, you can just say no to the bogans who try to bum a ciggie off you. Just make sure your pack is hidden and always claim that was your last one.
This is in no way an endorsement of smoking – as a non-smoker, it’s awful having to be around people smoking.
NoImRight said :
pipes up.. tee hee
poetix said :
You were my inspiration
peitab said :
People smoking pipes look highly suspicious.
+1
Also, in the end, you can just say no to the bogans who try to bum a ciggie off you. Just make sure your pack is hidden and always claim that was your last one.
This is in no way an endorsement of smoking – as a non-smoker, it’s awful having to be around people smoking.
Never works, I don’t smoke but I have been asked for a cigarette more than once.
Just recently though, an old woman in a nightie at the Spence 7/11 asked me for one, I said “sorry I don’t smoke.” she then went on to tell me I should buy her a packet, as they were only 10 or 15 dollars HAHA I almost died laughing.
I thought it was illegal to throw rubbish out of the car window – regardless of fire danger?!
Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :
Let’s be realistic, you’re either a [i]virgin man-boy[/i] living with your parents, ORRRRRR, you married your high school girlfriend for fear of being forever alone, and now you find solace on the internet demeaning others because it’s the only way you can get validation in life. Either way, all smokers have taken note of your wise words and we will start studying hard to make you love us more.
78 x 15 + 16 – 52 = Math
Johnny_Moe said :
translation:
“im 17, i smoke a pack a day, and im mad”
Back in the UK I used to flick ash out of the car window but stub butts in the ashtray. Moving here, and being aware of the fire risk, I stopped even flicking ash out of the window. I can’t believe that people do.
Johnny_Moe said :
Oohhh yeah. I’d like some of what you’ve been smoking. Definitely mind altering…
vulpior said :
I work with a bloke who lives in the weeds outside Yass. He says he’s seen two people flick their butts out of their cars in a shower of sparks in the last week alone. This, in the middle of the worst fire danger week in years, which included the hottest day in Australia since records began.
I lived on bush blocks outside Canberra for 15 years, so I’m not surprised. Complete imbeciles with no consideration for the lives or property of others pull this stunt all the time. I have a long list of people I’d like to snipe from long range if only the law would allow it, and fire-danger-period butt throwers are right up there, along with recidivist drink drivers, burglars, child molesters and others of that ilk.
You can report them, call canberra connect or there is a link to an incident report form on this page:
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/city-services/city_rangers/littering
You will need to take down as many details as you can like time, location registration and other vehicle details. I have filled out a report before, I would be interested to know what is done about these.