December 2024
“Don’t be a Flicking Idiot” is the Toronto Fire Services education campaign to reduce fires from improperly discarded cigarettes.
There were 114 fires started by lit cigarette butts of which 51 were balcony fires by the middle of 2017, when the campaign commenced. This was more than the total number of smoking-related calls for all of 2016.
High-rise condominium communities have the right to prohibit smoking in units, common areas including outdoor patios, exclusive use outdoor balconies and parking areas. Residents in non-smoking buildings are safer. The likelihood of fire is lessened, there is no risk from second-hand smoke, and building odours are reduced. Resale values in buildings that allow smoking are estimated to be up to 29 percent less.
In buildings where smoking is allowed, precautions and enforcement measures are necessary. Where smoking is allowed in units, owners have an obligation to ensure smoke does not escape and bother those in neighbouring suites. If you or a guest are going to smoke on your balcony, make sure there is a proper receptacle to place the butt. This means something like a metal or fireproof container with sand or water. Guests and neighbours should know that you have zero tolerance for butts being flicked. Building managers and fire departments cannot be there the moment a cigarette butt is about to be flicked, but you can. Hold your neighbours and guests to a high fire safety standard.
There should be zero tolerance for butts being flicked.
