Smoking time bomb

Smoking

‘Cigarettes cause a third of house fire fatalities’ is the stark fact Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service want people to remember on National No Smoking Day tomorrow (Wednesday 9 March 2011).

Careless disposal of cigarettes is the single biggest killer in house fires across the country. Habits such as smoking whilst drinking alcohol in the home or lighting up in bed are responsible for one in three (36 per cent) of all accidental house fires resulting in deaths in England, and in Greater Manchester caused 123 fires in 2009/10 resulting in 6 deaths and 51 injuries.

For smokers not ready to kick the habit this No Smoking Day, it is important to follow these simple precautions to prevent a fire at home: 

• Put it out, right out - Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished
• Fit a smoke alarm and test it weekly - A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999
• Never smoke in bed - Take care when you’re tired. It’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and set furniture alight
• Avoid drugs and alcohol when smoking - It’s easy to lose your concentration when using any sort of drugs or drinking alcohol, combined with cigarettes and this could be lethal
• Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down
• Use a proper, heavy ashtray - that can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn.

If you would to arrange a free home fire risk assessment for yourself, on behalf of a member of your family or a friend please contact us by calling us free on 0800 555 815 or visit www.manchesterfire.gov.uk