Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) is supporting National No Smoking Day on Wednesday 12 March.
While smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the United Kingdom, accidental fires started by cigarettes and other smoking materials kill more people than any other type of fire. These incidents are most likely to happen in the living room, closely followed by the bedroom.
HWFRS is calling on smokers to quit if they can but to otherwise always be vigilant when smoking or disposing of materials.
Emma Roberts, HWFRS Head of Prevention, said: “No Smoking Day on 12 March provides us with the ideal opportunity to encourage people to consider giving up smoking. Where this isn’t possible, we are asking people to be extra vigilant when putting out cigarettes. Quitting smoking altogether is the best way to remove the risk of a cigarette or smoking material-related fire. But if you do smoke, please remember to ensure you put your cigarettes out, right out.”
Here are some useful tips to avoid smoking-related fires:
- Reduce risk by quitting smoking.
- Smoke outside and fully extinguish cigarettes.
- Never smoke in bed or in a chair where you might fall asleep.
- Be extra cautious when smoking while tired, on prescription drugs, or after drinking.
- Never leave a lit cigarette, cigar, or pipe unattended as they can easily start a fire.
- Always use a proper ashtray and fully extinguish cigarettes—never use a wastepaper basket.
- Ensure your ashtray is fireproof and stable. Don’t empty it into an indoor bin before bed or leaving the house, as hot embers can start a fire unnoticed.
- Never discard cigarettes or smoking materials on or over balconies.
- Counterfeit or illegal cigarettes increase fire risk. If not quitting, only buy legal cigarettes.
- Consider child-resistant lighters and matchboxes.
- Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
- Protect your home and family with working smoke alarms. Install one on every level of your home, test weekly—they could save your life.
The NHS offers a range of free, friendly stop-smoking services that can significantly increase your chances of quitting.
For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/nhs-stop-smoking-services-help-you-quit/.
You can book a free Home Fire Safety Visit by calling our Prevention Team on 0800 032 1155.
Alternatively, complete a free online Home Fire Safety check at www.safelincs.co.uk/hfsc/.