I-17, Loop 303 and State Rte 74 all closed due to brush fire (Sun City: purchase, live)

[Dewey59]

Had to go up to Prescott Valley this afternoon. As I was running up on the 303, I seen there was a cop pulled over on the other side with his lights flashing. There was also a van pulled over and two guys were out standing on the road. There was a small fire in the ditch next to them.

By the time I came back a few hours later, apparently the fire had gotten a lot bigger. I-17, the 303, and 74 were all closed. What a traffic nightmare!

Of course, I have no way of knowing, but I suspect this fire was probably started by someone throwing a cigarette butt out the window. A simple careless act like that can create a nightmare for thousands of others. Of course, if that was the cause, the person starting the fire was not delayed in the least, so what do they care!

Just had to vent. Please be careful folks.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by Dewey59

Had to go up to Prescott Valley this afternoon. As I was running up on the 303, I seen there was a cop pulled over on the other side with his lights flashing. There was also a van pulled over and two guys were out standing on the road. There was a small fire in the ditch next to them.

By the time I came back a few hours later, apparently the fire had gotten a lot bigger. I-17, the 303, and 74 were all closed. What a traffic nightmare!

Of course, I have no way of knowing, but I suspect this fire was probably started by someone throwing a cigarette butt out the window. A simple careless act like that can create a nightmare for thousands of others. Of course, if that was the cause, the person starting the fire was not delayed in the least, so what do they care!

Just had to vent. Please be careful folks.

Who knows (?) about the origin of this one, but many brush fires do begin with a cigarette toss. The world is their ashtray.

[Dewey59]

Originally Posted by Colt Cassidy

Who knows (?) about the origin of this one, but many brush fires do begin with a cigarette toss. The world is their ashtray.

I'm not sure, but I think most cars do not have ashtrays anymore. Been that way for several years. Another classic example of do-gooders intentions (smoking is not good for you, so we will take away your ashtray) gone horribly wrong. Now people are forced to throw them out the window.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Dewey59

I'm not sure, but I think most cars do not have ashtrays anymore. Been that way for several years. Another classic example of do-gooders intentions (smoking is not good for you, so we will take away your ashtray) gone horribly wrong. Now people are forced to throw them out the window.

Ashtrays and lighters have gone away in favor of storage spaces and charging docks for mobile phones. I doubt any "do gooder" is trying to stop people from smoking.

No one is forcing anyone to throw anything out the window. If you smoke in your car, you should figure out how to dispose of the butts without throwing them out the window. They don't just disappear once tossed; they can cause fires as mentioned, and just add to the general trash on the streets that is unnecessary.

At a red light recently I watched a lady open a pack of smokes and every bit of extra plastic and paper packaging she had to rip off went out the window, bit by bit. Makes my blood boil.

[Dewey59]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

Ashtrays and lighters have gone away in favor of storage spaces and charging docks for mobile phones. I doubt any "do gooder" is trying to stop people from smoking.

Well, you're partially right:

"According the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the trend toward "smokeless cars" is likely to continue for three reasons: pressure from anti-smoking groups, fewer smokers, and the need for extra storage space."

Source:

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/c...83214438883934

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Dewey59

I'm not sure, but I think most cars do not have ashtrays anymore. Been that way for several years. Another classic example of do-gooders intentions (smoking is not good for you, so we will take away your ashtray) gone horribly wrong. Now people are forced to throw them out the window.

So much for personal responsibility, huh? How asinine. No one is forced to throw a cigarette out of their window. If one must smoke in their car, it's their responsibility to ensure they have an ashtray before lighting up.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Dewey59

Well, you're partially right:

"According the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the trend toward "smokeless cars" is likely to continue for three reasons: pressure from anti-smoking groups, fewer smokers, and the need for extra storage space."

Source:

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/c...83214438883934

Fewer smokers I can believe. Now if we can do something to reduce the vape group as well

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by Dewey59

I'm not sure, but I think most cars do not have ashtrays anymore. Been that way for several years. Another classic example of do-gooders intentions (smoking is not good for you, so we will take away your ashtray) gone horribly wrong. Now people are forced to throw them out the window.

See, that's not really true.

Automakers put in power ports everywhere now instead because Mr. and Mrs. Marlboro and their friends the Newports gave up smoking back in the 80s long before moving to Sun City. So there's no need for automakers to equip cars with four lighters and door pocket ashtrays when nobody smokes anymore anyway. These days everyone's loaded down with phones, tablets, and other electronics that they want to charge while on their way, so you have power ports everywhere instead.

As for being forced to toss butts out the window, well, it's really not that difficult nor is it cost prohibitive to purchase one of a trillion different cupholder or insert ashtrays. Some automakers even offer them as accessories, including the cigarette lighter conversion from a power port.

Amazon: Cupholder ashtray

[ibarrio]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

See, that's not really true.

Automakers put in power ports everywhere now instead because Mr. and Mrs. Marlboro and their friends the Newports gave up smoking back in the 80s long before moving to Sun City. So there's no need for automakers to equip cars with four lighters and door pocket ashtrays when nobody smokes anymore anyway. These days everyone's loaded down with phones, tablets, and other electronics that they want to charge while on their way, so you have power ports everywhere instead.

As for being forced to toss butts out the window, well, it's really not that difficult nor is it cost prohibitive to purchase one of a trillion different cupholder or insert ashtrays. Some automakers even offer them as accessories, including the cigarette lighter conversion from a power port.

Amazon: Cupholder ashtray

people are generally lazy and unwilling to assume any responsibility.

[Dewey59]

Originally Posted by ibarrio

people are generally lazy and unwilling to assume any responsibility.

Right. It's MUCH easier to just flick it out the window! That was my point, by getting rid of ash trays as standard equipment, it has made this problem much worse.

Ironically, last night, I was watching Live PD and an AZ DPS trooper pulled over a car for flicking a cigarette out the window. He said it is considered criminal littering.