Cigarette butts litter Yellow Fever Creek Preserve, raising fire risk

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK) — A 10-minute walk through Yellow Fever Creek Preserve revealed dozens of cigarette butts scattered along the trails and parking areas.

Fire officials say the risk of a wildfire can grow by dropping cigarette butts, especially in dry conditions. The U.S. Forest Service says between 2010 and 2020, 1,700 fires per year were caused by cigarettes.

Visitors to the preserve expressed frustration with the littering problem.

"They should put up no smoking signs, because the biggest thing on this park is seeing the cigarette butts along the trail," one visitor said.

Larry Hendrixson, who lives nearby, called the situation horrible.

"Even as an ex-smoker, this is ridiculous," Hendrixson said. "I mean, this is what you get an ashtray for now, dump it out in the trash can, take it home. Don't just throw them out in the parking lot."

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Jared Ritch, a smoker who was about to walk through the preserve, said smokers have a responsibility to properly dispose of their cigarettes.

"It makes me angry," Ritch said. "In all honesty, I think if you are smoking, you have a responsibility to dispose of it."

He emphasized the danger of improperly discarded cigarettes.

"No matter how much you are sure that cigarette is out, that cigarette is never out till you dispose of it," Ritch said.

From above, the issue might not be visible, but closer to the ground, cigarette butts are everywhere. Some were found lying on top of dry brush, creating a potential fire hazard.

Firefighters confirmed that a fire can spread in these conditions after throwing cigarette butts on the ground. The county said they are in charge of the cleanup and will look into the issue.

Ritch said respect is what keeps the ground clean.

"It's a manners and politeness thing," Ritch said. "It comes down to, if you're not a big enough a person to pick up your buds and you know, there's nothing we can really do about it."

In dry conditions, every cigarette butt left on the ground is one more reminder of a fire threat.