Thursday 8 March - 15.30hrs
People who smoke are at greater risk of dying from a fire in
their home than those who don’t, according to national
statistics.
And with cigarettes and cigarette paraphernalia being the second
biggest cause of house fires in the Avon Fire & Rescue Service
(AF&RS) area, the service’s Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive
Kevin Pearson is keen to stress the less obvious dangers of
smoking.
With No Smoking Day approaching on March 14 and a smoking ban
due to come into force on July 1, now is a good time to think about
giving up, says Kevin.
He added: “On average, crews from AF&RS are called out at
least once a week to property fires which have been started
accidentally by cigarettes and cigarette paraphernalia.
“Already this year we have seen one person die as a result of a
fire which was started by a dropped cigarette. This tragic incident
was avoidable and I want to prevent this from happening again.
“The simple answer is to stop smoking and I appreciate this
isn’t easy. But if you are going to smoke, do it safely.”
Smokers can reduce their risk of house fires by following these
simple tips:
- Don’t smoke in bed
- Take extra care if you’re feeling tired, have been drinking or
are taking prescription drugs. Many fires are started by people who
have fallen asleep and not realised that a cigarette is still
burning
- Use a deep, heavy ashtray, made from a non-flammable material.
And never tap your ash into a wastepaper basket
- Don’t leave a cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around. They can
easily overbalance as they burn down and start a fire by landing on
carpet or a newspaper, and;
- Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children.
Kevin said: “I am concerned that more people will smoke in their
homes when the smoking ban takes effect in a couple of months,
putting them at greater risk of fire.
“There are many avenues open to people who want to give up
smoking, but need a bit of support and I would encourage everyone
to make use of services available.
“But if you can’t give up, consider the points above or book a
free Home Fire Safety Visit, where we will give you advice on
potential fire hazards in the home, including smoking, and install
a free smoke alarm.”
*To book a Home Fire Safety Visit call 0800 1693
999