Vancouver Fire captain says people are not getting the message about cigarette butts

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Smoking is banned in Vancouver parks, but some people are still not getting the message.

Since May, Stanley Park has had 28 fires and park rangers have given out around 250 warnings.

Vancouver Fire Captain Jonathan Gormick says he sees people flicking cigarette butts all over the city, which in his mind, is the main cause.

“Almost all the outdoor fires in Vancouver are started by improperly discarded smoking material,” says Gormick. “There’s a very small fraction that is caused by other human factors. But again, they’re all human-caused.”

RELATED: Stanley Park fire likely caused by tossed cigarette butt, says Vancouver Fire

He says it’s frustrating because these fires are easily preventable.

“It feels like it’s only going to be a matter of time before one of these outdoor fires gets out of control, whether it’s in a park or not and I’d hate to see a totally preventable loss of property or life.”

-With files from Jonathan Szekeres

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to correct Captain Jonathan Gormick’s title.

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