Smoking and smoking materials are the second biggest cause of fires in the home.
Cigarettes can burn at temperatures of over 700ºC.
Every three days someone dies from a fire caused by a cigarette.
You can buy child-resistant lighters and containers for match boxes.

Smoking Hazards

If you or members of your household smoke, then you need to be aware of the fire risks and take the appropriate steps to avoid them.

Always...

Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on each floor level in your home.
Double-check that cigarette ends, cigar butts and tobacco from your pipe are not still burning when you've finished with them. It's best to wet them and dispose of them in a metal bin outside the house.
Use a proper ashtray - make sure it is heavy and can't tip over and is made of a material that will not burn.

Grass, wood and heath fires start when your attention stops! Never throw cigarette ends out of windows.

Smoke in bed - numerous deaths are caused when people fall asleep whilst still holding a lit cigarette.
Tap your ash into a wastepaper basket!

Smoke if you feel sleepy - or if you've been drinking or taking prescription drugs, again, you could fall asleep whilst holding a lit cigarette.
Leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe unattended - as they burn down they can end up on the carpet and start a fire!
Leave matches or lighters lying around where children can reach them.
Leave your ashtray on the armrest of your chair. At the end of the day, make sure you empty them outside in a metal container

The information on this page is an extract from the 'Cigarette fires' leaflet produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

Further information relating to fire safety can be found on the Fire Kills website.

If you would like to give up smoking you can: