section c:  cigarette fires

Overview

Cigarettes are the most common ignition source for fatal residential fires in the United States accounting for 29% of the nation's fire deaths.

Facts about cigarette fires

• Annually 1000 people on the U.S. die from fires started by cigarettes.

• An additional 3000 are injured.

• More than 100 of the victims are children

• In 1997 there were 130,000 cigarette-related fires.

• Cost of life property exceeds $6 billions dollars per year.

More facts about cigarettes

• Cigarttes are designed to continue burning when left unattended.

• Delayed ignition of a sofa, chair, or mattress from a dropped lit cigarette is a common scenario.

• Cigarettes can be modified to become more fire-safe by self-extinguishing.

high risk areas

• The most common room involved is the bedroom as people fall asleep smoking.
• The next most common site is the living room when smoldering cigarettes find their way into couches and chairs and slowly smolder, eventually erupting into flames.
• Unfortunately the fire, that is produced, often claims multiple lives as the fire often ocurrs at night.

Prevention Tips

• Donot smoke in bed.
• After a party or when friends who smoke leave, check custions, chairs, and the party area for fallen cigarette buttes.
• Donot smoke when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• Keep ashtrays readily available.
• Donot empty ash trays before putting out smouldering cigarette butts.
• Develop and use of a fire-safe cigarette.