More people die in fires caused by smoking than in fires with any other single cause. Because tobacco is designed to stay alight, cigarettes can easily start an accidental fire.
- Keep your home and family safe from fire.
- Use your common sense – know the risks and make sure when you put it out, it really is out!
- Take extra care if you smoke when you’re drowsy, taking prescription drugs, or if you have been drinking. It’s too easy to fall asleep and not notice that a cigarette is still burning.
- Don’t leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around. They can easily overbalance as they burn down, land on a carpet or a newspaper, and start a fire.
- Take responsibility and keep lighters and matches out of reach of children.
- Don’t light up if you need to lie down. Despite the risk of falling asleep or setting the bed on fire, people are still smoking in bed.
- Use a proper ashtray. Make sure the ashtray is heavy, can't tip over easily, and is made of a material that won't burn.
- Never tap your ash into a wastepaper basket – only an ashtray. Make sure it can't be easily knocked over and don’t let ash build up.
- People often like to smoke when they're drinking. But someone who has had a few drinks can end up passing out with a cigarette in their hand. The result? Severe burns, permanent scarring, or even death.
- Every year children die from starting fires with cigarettes and lighters they shouldn't have.
- Consider buying child-resistant lighters and matchboxes. Matchboxes now carry this warning label.
