Yesterday, a massive fire was caused after someone apparently threw a cigarette butt out the window of a car sparking a fire that destroyed 47 cars at Sydney’s Olympic Park.  If caught, the person responsible could face severe penalties according to the Sydney Police Commissioner.  In NSW the maximum penalty for starting a bushfire is 14 years (as long as someone doesn’t die).

But today I am curious… would the dropping of a cigarette butt really be treated with such seriousness?

There is CCTV footage all through this carpark which was graced with long dry grass before the fire.  So it is likely the cause will be found.

In a country facing record fire danger, how should we be discouraging smokers from throwing their cigarette butts out their windows in obviously dangerous dry grass?  Have your say!