More people die in fires caused by smoking than in fires caused by anything else. Tobacco is manufactured to stay alight, meaning it can remain smouldering and start a fire.
Safety tips if you smoke
cigarettes burn at 700° and contain chemicals which keep them alight
Follow these safety tips to avoid causing a fire:
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never smoke in bed – it’s very easy to fall asleep and allow your cigarette to set light to your bedclothes or furnishings
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don’t smoke if you’re drowsy – especially if you’re sitting in a comfortable chair or if you’ve been drinking or taking prescription drugs; again, it’s easy to fall asleep
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don’t leave a lit cigarette (or cigar or pipe) – they can easily overbalance and land on the carpet or other flammable material; and make sure your ashtray is heavy and can’t tip easily
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make totally sure that your butts (and any remains in your pipe bowl) aren’t still smouldering when you’ve finished with them; wet them and empty your ashtray into a metal bin outside the house
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keep lighters, matches and smoking materials out of the reach of children – you can also buy child-resistant lighters and containers for matches
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