Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 27/06/2

“Each year 1,770 people are either killed or injured by fires caused by smoking at home. We hope when the smoking ban comes in on 1st July people will quit or take extra care when smoking at home” said Chief Fire Officer Matt Littmoden

Firefighters from across the county would like people to remember:

• Put it out, right out! Make sure your cigarette is fully
extinguished;

• Take extra care when you are tired, have taken any sort of drugs or drunk alcohol. It's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning;

• Never smoke in bed - if you need to lie down, don't light up. You
could doze off and set yourself on fire;

• Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can
easily overbalance as they burn down;

• Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can't tip over easily and is made
of a material that won't burn. Make sure your cigarette is not still
burning when you are finished. Put it out, right out;

• Tap your ash into an ashtray, never a wastebasket containing other rubbish and don't let the ash or cigarette ends build up in the ashtray;
• Fit and maintain a smoke alarm - A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999. You can get a ten-year smoke alarm for roughly the same price as two packets of cigarettes.

To request a free ‘home fire safety check’ contact your local fire station or freephone 0800 3581 999.