One cigarette could cost your life, warns new fire safety campaign

Falling asleep with a cigarette could be a wake-up call you never hear again – that’s the burning message from Avon Fire & Rescue Service this week as it warns smokers of the fatal fire risks. The service is highlighting that smoking materials remain the leading cause of fire-related deaths in homes, despite an overall drop in fire incidents nationwide. Avon Fire & Rescue Service, which covers Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, is urging smokers to take simple steps to avoid tragedy.

These include never smoking in bed or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, using heavy ashtrays that cannot easily tip over, and ensuring cigarettes are fully extinguished before being disposed of. Nikki Rice, prevention manager at Avon Fire & Rescue Service, said: “Fires ignited by cigarettes or smoking materials result in more fatalities than any other fire. Despite a fall in the overall number of fires caused by these products, it’s still the biggest cause of accidental fires in the home across the country.



“Every smoker should be aware of the risks they take every time they light up and drop the habit of smoking indoors, especially in bed, or under the influence of alcohol. The risk of falling asleep before you ‘put it out, right out’ is just too great. “Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them at least monthly.

Working smoke alarms can give you the extra time you need to escape if the worst should happen.” The fire service is also encouraging those considering quitting to take advantage of NHS stop smoking services, which are free and designed to significantly increase the chances of success. More information can be found at .

For those not ready to quit, switching to vaping is offered as a less fire-risky alternative. Other key safety tips include: The campaign, titled , is the latest in Avon Fire & Rescue’s focus on fire prevention, a priority the service says is vital in keeping communities safe. For more details, visit .

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