Operation “Thrown cigarette butt, forest in danger”: Lot firefighters get involved

New departments involved

As in 2019, the National Confederation of Tobacconists has joined forces with the Entente Valabre, a public institution based in the PACA region and which works, among other things, to raise awareness among the general public about the risks associated with forest fires. This year, the operation extends to departments far from the South-East but affected by a significant risk of forest fires. This is the case of Landes and Lot.

Lot firefighters mobilized

The operation officially began in the Lot on Monday, July 6, 2020. Thierry Scheid, administrator of the National Confederation, head of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) working group, president of the Lot Departmental Federation of Tobacconists, accompanied by Captain Patrick Forte, head of the Cajarc Fire and Rescue Center (CIS) and Mathieu Mercadier, treasurer of the federation and volunteer firefighter at the CIS Limogne-en-Quercy, launched the system from his Cajarcois tobacconist's. This location is symbolic since the city is unfortunately accustomed to forest fires. It was also affected by the largest vegetation fire in France, which occurred in 2018 and ravaged 160 hectares.

A vast communication campaign

100 tobacconists in the Lot will receive awareness posters in July: "Cigarette butt thrown away, forest in danger". They will also be equipped with flexible and reusable pocket ashtrays, developed in partnership with Dape 74, a Bic subsidiary. These products represent a simple and civic solution to accompany smokers on walks in the countryside. The Federation will also equip the CIS of the Lot firefighters with a dispenser of this type of ashtray. All these initiatives encourage good practices and the protection of nature. It should also be noted that throwing a cigarette butt in nature will soon be punishable by a fine of €135.

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