With extreme fire conditions across the State, even suburban communities like Arvada are prone to an increase in grass and outdoors fires. These fires can get quickly out of hand and citizens are urged to use caution and follow the fire ban. One “bad habit” getting additional attention this summer is the improper disposal of smoking materials.
Tossing cigarette butts out car windows or throwing them on the ground prior to entering into a building not only presents a fire hazard, but is also littering. In addition, where you choose to smoke could potentially be a violation of a City ordinance. Did you know in the City of Arvada it is unlawful for any person to smoke in any public place or sports arena? This ordinance has been in effect since January 1, 2006.
According to the ordinance a public place is defined as any indoor or outdoor facility or area that is open to members of the public who enter such facility or area, including but not limited to parks, trails, golf courses, mercantile establishments, restaurants, taverns, theaters, financial institutions, educational facilities, hospitals, health care facilities and institutions, libraries, auditoriums, arenas, assembly or meeting rooms, public conveyances, governmental buildings, office buildings, restrooms, elevators, child care centers, outdoor customer seating areas, and waiting rooms of professional persons. So when you and your family head out to one of Arvada’s beautiful parks this summer for a picnic, smoking will have to be placed on hold.
To help define this ordinance even further, smoke or smoking means the possession of a lighted cigarette, cigar, or pipe containing tobacco or other organic burning matter, regardless of its composition, or the lighting of such cigarette, cigar, or pipe by any person.
Finally, sports arena means any indoor or outdoor sports pavilions, athletic fields, gymnasiums, swimming pools, roller and ice rinks, bowling alleys, and other similar places where members of the general public assemble either to engage in the physical exercise, participate in athletic competition, or witness sports events.
So during this time of increased awareness about the fire hazards in our community, please take the time to extinguish your smoking materials and properly dispose of them. Together we can keep our community fire safe.