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> Allowing smoking on planes was and is a terrible idea. The fire risk alone should immediately discount it.

Yet, people still smoke around pumps at gas stations and even throw the butt to the ground.

And given that a lit cigarette is not hot enough to ignite gasoline vapor what is the issue?

Representative sample: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/feb/27/smoking.film

The real danger is the unlit cigarette.

From the article itself, gasoline ignites at 270°C and cigarettes burn at 700°C+. "we tried a bunch of stuff and it did not do squat" is not quite scientific enough to have me stand in the middle of a gas puddle while a dumbass throws a butt at my feet. I bet you would not take the risk either.

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