No ‘buts’ about it, keeping smoking areas clean a group effort Published Nov. 20, 2008 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- In recent weeks, questions were raised about who should provide custodial services to on-base smoking huts and tobacco disposal receptacles. Tinker officials said providing receptacles are a courtesy, but the responsibility for ensuring their cleanliness lies with the tobacco users. When the smoking-butt cans are not emptied and the sheds are littered, fires can start. In the past few weeks, officials have witnessed two. To avoid the inevitable fire, smokers are asked to clean the smoking areas, but don't view it as a chore, but rather a courtesy to fellow smokers. "The Air Force no longer allows us to build smoking shelters or huts, and they do not fund contract support for cleaning up after smokers," said Gene Gallogly, 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineering director. "Money is going into smoking cessation classes and into fitness programs to encourage a healthy lifestyle. You still have a choice as to whether you smoke, but the Air Force isn't going to subsidize a habit that is harmful to your health, and therefore detrimental to our mission. "Please empty the butt cans periodically when all the butts are cool," Mr. Gallogly said. "Pick up the huts so the next guy has a nice place to enjoy their break. If smokers don't empty butt cans or keep huts clean, they become a hazard. That could lead officials to ban smoking on base altogether." Mr. Gallogly said if smokers are responsible about their butt cans and sheds, and using only their designated areas to smoke, they'll likely receive the support of non-smokers. "Please stay away from entrances, common areas and air-intakes," Mr. Gallogly said. "While we all care about smokers' health, officials generally tend to restrict smoking or establish more rules only when smokers don't respect non-smokers' rights." While Tinker Fire Department officials said they are often concerned about the cleanliness of a smoking-butt receptacle and sheds, their focus is safety. "We're interested in smoking from the standpoint of when it's hazardous," said Scott Bloxham, assistant chief of Fire Prevention at the fire department. "If you have a flammable storage area and someone is smoking next to the flammable-liquid sign we can go do something. But, if there's not any hazard there, like someone smoking within 50-feet to an entrance to a building, there's nothing the Fire Prevention office can do." Chief Bloxham said the fire department is responsible for approximately 18 million square feet of real property and the Fire Prevention office doesn't have the resources to consistently examine tobacco receptacles throughout the day. If the tobacco users opt not to clean the receptacles and sheds, the responsibility falls to the users' supervisory chain and the facility manager.