Liverpool officers who arrived at about 9.50am at the industrial area in Moorebank Avenue found flames had engulfed the 50metre by three metre garden strip.

A station officer said: ``In summer we get called to so many lit fires on median strips because people sit there at red lights and flick cigarette butts out the window and pay no attention to what happens.

``While we're attending to that there could be someone out there that really needs us.''

Liverpool police crime manager Andy Richmond said people can be fined from $200 to $375 for dropping a lit cigarette.

``Such actions are known to be a contributing factor to the causes of bushfires,'' he said.

``If people witness others discarding cigarettes from moving vehicles, or in any other situation which may cause a grass or bushfire, then I would strongly encourage them to report the incident to their local police or Crime Stoppers.''