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NOTICE:
All cigarettes sold in the state of Oregon must be
self-extinguishing.
ORS 476.760, 476.770
Okay, smokers, it's been very hot and dry and that means there's extreme fire
danger in the forest. That means “Be safe with that cigarette!” Call the local fire district to
determine whether or not smoking is allowed where you’re going. Don’t toss any cigarette
from your vehicle, flick it on a trail, or drop it on the ground while fishing or hunting.
What? Who would do that? Well, for the past five years, 237 smoking fires have burned
3,285 acres and cost $4.37 million to suppress. They
have been the 5th leading cause of wildfires on state
protected lands in Oregon. So many smokers have done that.
Hopefully, these statistics will decline drastically with self-extinguishing
cigarettes.
View Video:
Use Your Ashtray
 I
guess smokers don’t understand how
lethal their still-lit cigarettes may be. They don’t understand a cigarette butt can smolder for hours before touching off a fire. They’re used to tossing it on a city street or a parking
lot where it might go out without doing any damage (but is still illegal).
But in a forest, that cigarette becomes a major menace. Most fires started
by discarded cigarettes were caused by people who will never know what they did.
If you’re a smoker, use the ashtray in your car. Keep an ashtray in your
campground. Never leave a cigarette on a trail or in a campsite – extinguished or not.
Forests are retreats from stressful jobs and congested cities. The majestic
beauty of Oregon’s great forests is indisputable. These trees and the wildlife that live amongst them inspire poets, artists, and songwriters. Our forests and recreational refuges are for everyone – including smokers.
Maybe smokers just need a little
reminder of the treasure that surrounds them. Maybe they even need to be reminded that smoking is bad for trees! When you visit our forests, use your ashtrays and pack your cigarette
butts out with you when you leave.
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