Vernon hopes cigarette tossing message hits home: ‘We want to protect our community’

By Megan Turcato North Okanagan Reporter Global News

Drivers headed into Vernon, B.C. will see signs reminding them of the consequences of tossed cigarette butts. The City of Vernon is taking a proactive approach to wildfire prevention and installing digital signs around the community, reminding people not to discard their cigarettes carelessly. “We know that some of the fires around the province are…human-caused and we’ve had some complaints from our residents saying that [at] some of the lookouts we have around town, people have been stopping and having a smoke and tossing their butts on the ground. There [have been] some confrontations between residents and people who do that so we said, ‘Let’s try to be proactive,’” Mayor Akbal Mund said.“We want to protect our community. The loss of a home is a big deal for everybody and we’ve got to make sure we are doing what we can, as council, to protect our community.” The signs read, “Extreme fire hazard. Do not toss butts. $575 fine.” The city is placing six of these signs around the community. It is costing the city $6,600 a month to rent the digital sign boards. The mayor said he considers the cost “quite reasonable” considering the potential cost associated with a serious wildfire.
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https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/205612/Butt-flicker-unrepentant