Ensure smoking materials are properly discarded

  • Published
  • 60 CES/ Fire Prevention office
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  August 24, 2008 marked a day firefighters around the county and Air Force communities would not forget anytime soon. A fire started off base and moved quickly through the old vacant base housing, causing the destruction of 176 homes, which in turn, called for 225 firefighters and 78 fire trucks to respond to fight the blaze. Last year the State of California battled approximately 1,600 wildfires at one time. Last year's fire season started roughly about February and did not end until the last week of November. 

Over the last two years the Travis Fire Department responded to 24 wildland fires with most being from discarded smoking materials. With the Critical Days of Summer underway and already well into the fire season, the Travis Fire Department would like to remind everyone of the dangers fire poses around the state and Travis. The hills are brown and the grasslands extremely dry, just waiting for an ignition source. People are the number one factor for wildland fires throughout the state. The main reason most grass fires begin is improperly discarded smoking materials. 

Under the California State Health and Safety codes " any person can be charged with a misdemeanor for who, through careless or negligent action, throws or places any lighted cigarette, cigar, ashes," " which may cause a fire" Fines can range from $100 to $1,000 per offense. Furthermore, probation can include eight hours or more of collecting litter from highways and streets in the jurisdiction. 

If a fire starts, damages to property and/or life may be prosecuted for those criminal acts, to include being held responsible to pay the monetary cost recovery. Following the tips below will help eliminate the chance of being "the source."

- Never throw smoking materials out of a car window. Cigarette butts can smolder
for up to three hours, and can be blown for hundreds of yards into combustible
materials. Always use your cars' ashtray, and make sure all butts are completely out
before throwing into the trash.

- In and around base buildings, smoking is only permitted in designated areas, and use
approved smoking receptacles. Cans should be emptied weekly, and thoroughly
wetted down prior to placing contents in a plastic bag before disposing into the
dumpster. Make sure all receptacles are properly marked and kept clear of trash.
Do not discard butts in landscaped areas. The shredded bark
used around the base is extremely dry and very combustible.

- Keep smoking areas free from excess grass and other vegetation, and ensure
accumulated trash is picked up and properly disposed of.

- All areas will be considered "No smoking" areas unless a "Designated tobacco use area" sign is posted. AFI 40-102, Tobacco Use in the Air Force. This instruction governs smoking on Air Force installations. TAFB Supplement 32-105, Travis Fire Prevention Code governs Travis-specific areas.

In most cities you can be fined for throwing lit smoking products from your vehicle. Here on Travis you can also receive a ticket from Security Forces for the same offense. As Team Travis members, do your part to prevent grass fires and report folks to authorities before the next fire is in your back yard.