Smoking
Smoking materials remain the biggest killer in accidental dwelling fires, and represent one-third of all fatal house fires. They are the second biggest cause of fire related injury.
Fires caused by cigarettes can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions:
- Never smoke in bed.
- Never leave lit cigarettes lying around.
- Always use a proper ashtray and make sure it can’t be knocked over.
- Take special care when you are tired or when you’ve been drinking.
- Keep matches and lighters away from children.
- Make sure you have a working smoke alarm.
Fires
- In 2002, smoking materials caused 3,800 accidental dwelling fires in the UK. This represents 8% of the total number recorded.
Deaths
- Fires started by smoking materials account for one third of all accidental dwelling fire deaths each year.
- In 2002 it is estimated that there were 120 deaths in such fires. This compares with135 in 2001, 139 in 2000 and 122 in 1999.
- The fatality rate for smoking materials fires is high. In 2002 there were 32 deaths per 1,000 fires, compared with the overall rate of 7 per 1,000 for all accidental dwelling fire deaths.
Injuries
- Smoking material fires account for nearly 14% of all non-fatal casualties in accidental dwelling fires.
- In 2002 there were 1,405 non-fatal casualties in such fires compared with 1,504 in 2001, 1,530 in 2000 and 1,599 in 1999.
Cigarette fires are the biggest killer as they often happen at night after people have gone to bed. Also people are more relaxed in the evening and may have had a few drinks or are tired so are therefore less vigilant when extinguishing their cigarettes. A cigarette burns at 700 ?C, so make sure when you put it out it really is out. That final check could save your and your family’s lives.