Fire Prevention encourages Team Travis to properly discard smoking materials

  • Published
  • By the Fire Prevention Office
  • 60th Civil Engineer Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With California currently experiencing its worst fire conditions in three decades, the Travis Fire Department would like to remind everyone to be careful around the base.

The base has large expanses of natural wild land that is extremely dry. A carelessly thrown cigarette butt or ash flicked from the tip of a cigarette can ignite a fast moving fire that threatens base assets, wildlife and the firefighters that respond to the fire.

Last week, Travis had more than 100 acres of land burn. These fires were avoidable as they resulted from cigarette butts thrown from cars as well as discarded glass bottles.

Following the tips below can help eliminate the chance of you being "the source."

-- Never throw smoking materials out your 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 with the use of butt cans with self-closing lids. Cans should be emptied often and thoroughly wetted down prior to placing contents in a plastic bag before disposing into the dumpster. Make sure all butt cans 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 disposed of. 

-- Also keep in mind that a fire can easily start from a discarded bottle as well. The heat from the sun can shine through the glass and ignite grass or other materials. Never throw anything out that is not in approved trash containers.

In California, you can be fined for throwing butts or trash from your vehicle as well as be held accountable for the cost of a fire so if a fire ends up going off base you can be held accountable.

Remember, as members of Team Travis, we need to do our part to prevent grass fires.