FIRE brigade bosses are urging people to quit the cigs for No Smoking Day tomorrow following a rise in incidents.
Cleveland Fire Brigade saw a 76 per cent fall in accidental house fires caused by smoking, with only seven in 2012 and one in Hartlepool.
But there was four fires this January alone caused by carelessly discarded cigarettes across Cleveland, including one in town, so fire chiefs are urging people to quit, or for those who aren’t ready, to take extra care and follow fire safety advice.
It comes as bosses say households with a smoker are almost one and a half times more likely to suffer a fire than non-smoking households.
Phil Lancaster, director of community protection, said: “People know the health risks caused by cigarettes but they should not underestimate the threats associated with smoking in the home if cigarettes are not extinguished properly. Smokers are putting themselves and their families at risk from fire and the best way to reduce this risk is to give up smoking.”
People are urged to stub cigarettes out properly, use a proper ashtray, never smoke in bed, empty ashtrays frequently, keep all matches and lighters out of the reach of children and never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended.
Comments