The City of Dieppe is asking the public to exercise caution after several preventable fires occurred over the past week.
On the City’s social media account, a post indicates that multiple mulch fires began, with littered cigarette butts likely the root of the problem.
“We’ve been getting quite a few calls of mulch on fire…often times when cigarettes are discarded in mulch, it can create fires,” said Dieppe Fire District Chief Julien Boudreau. In some instances, the mulch fires have resulted in damage to buildings.
With the Summer weather conditions beginning to kick in, Boudreau says the need to properly dispose of cigarettes is even higher.
“The wind, the heat and the dryness make a perfect combination for mulch to catch fire.”
Instead, both the Chief and the City are pleading for residents to be mindful of how they get rid of cigarette butts.
“Cigarettes should be disposed of safely, and make sure you put them out. Other than that, you certainly shouldn’t throw them out of car windows,” said Boudreau.
“It is important to never throw cigarette butts from a vehicle or on the ground in public places since they often end up in the mulch found along the flower beds,” the City of Dieppe posted on their Facebook page.
