The Medicine Hat Fire Service has launched a new campaign aimed educating people on the dangers of improperly discarded cigarette butts. ( Colton Mckee/ CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

‘Don’t be a flicking idiot;’ Campaign urges people to think twice before tossing cigarette butts

Jul 31, 2020 | 4:00 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- They may be small in size , but they can ignite significant blazes which is why the Medicine Hat Fire Department has launched a new campaign boldly called ‘Don’t Be a Flicking Idiot, Tossed Butts Start Fires’.

The campaign aims to inform people about the dangers of improperly discarded cigarettes, especially as the weather heats up.

” We see it all the time where people will flick them out a window and into a ditch it can start a grass fire. If They are on a balcony and not put out properly they can go into a planter or in front of their house and start something,” fire prevention officer Curtis Sjodin said.

“Cigarette butts can smolder for a long time so the fire can start a half an hour later so make sure that you put them out in a proper ashtray, and they are fully out before you leave them,” he added.

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Carelessly discarded cigarettes have become a leading cause of fires over the years in Medicine Hat and they can cause significant damage. Last year two blazes caused by cigarette butts resulted in approximately $1 million in damages alone, according to Sjodin.