Avoiding Cigarette Fires

9/3/2021 (Permalink)

Cigarettes are a common cause of fire even though these fires are easily preventable. Here are three ways to prevent a cigarette fire.

1. Smoke outside. Most cigarette fires start when a smoker falls asleep. Bedrooms and couches are the most common places for cigarette fires to break out. Keep in mind that the same risks apply to smoking on a screened-in porch or a deck with furniture. It is best to smoke away from the house in an outdoor chair. You may be less likely to get comfortable enough to fall asleep outside with a lit cigarette.

2. Completely extinguish cigarettes. If you do not put out the burning end of a cigarette, you will greatly increase a fire risk inside or outside of your home. Take an extra moment to make sure that your cigarette is completely extinguished before leaving the area.

3. Use stable, enclosed ashtrays. An ashtray fire is a common type of cigarette fire. This type of blaze can occur if a pet knocks over an ashtray that contains smoldering butts or if burning butts get blown out of the ashtray onto combustible materials outdoors. Choose an ashtray that is hard to knock over, and that is enclosed or features a material that makes it easy to ensure that smoldering butts no longer pose a fire risk.

These are three simple and effective ways to prevent fires caused by cigarettes in or around your home. If a cigarette fire does break out, you can either extinguish a minor fire yourself or call the fire department. If your home sustains damage, SERVPRO of Greenville/Cleveland at (662)846-1700.