The Abbotsford Police Department (APD) is cracking down on people who discard cigarette butts out their car window or in areas that could cause a fire.
Sgt. Judy Bird said that earlier today (Tuesday), a patrol officer saw a lit cigarette butt being thrown from a vehicle. The person was fined $575 under the Wildfire Act.
“This is nothing compared to the full cost of battling a new fire, nor for any loss of homes, lives, property or livestock,” Bird said.
She said given the tinder-dry conditions, which have resulted in more than 200 wildfires currently burning across B.C., the APD will continue to issue fines for these “careless actions.”
Bird said a cigarette thrown from a car is a risk not only to motorists, but to emergency crews responding to a situation that could have been avoided.
Deputy Chief Jeff Adams with Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service said smokers should use caution at all times, but especially during these extended periods of drought.
“We attend multiple structure fires and human-caused fire tragedies every year when people discard smoking materials in dry plant pots outside their dwelling, in landscape bark mulch, and dry grass,” he said.
Bird says that anyone who sees a person throwing a cigarette butt from a car or people dropping them in areas that could cause a fire can call *5555 or 1-800-663-5555.
They can also call the APD at 604-859-5225 or text 222973 (abbypd).