IT only takes one poorly extinguished cigarette to destroy a home, warn Warwickshire fire chiefs on National Stop Smoking Day.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service dealt with 35-smoking-related fires in the county last year, with data showing a seasonal trend of smoking-related fires increasing during the spring and summer.
More than 40 per cent of last year’s incidents occurred as the weather warmed up, with peaks in April, June, and August. These fires often began outdoors in gardens, balconies, or refuse bins, but rarely stay there.
The data reveals that while nearly half began as small outdoor fires involving rubbish or garden waste, nearly 40 per cent developed into “accidental dwelling fires” which is the category most likely to result in serious injury or death.
Fire chiefs warm whether it is a cigarette discarded in a plastic bin or ash falling into dry garden foliage, the transition from a small spark to a life-threatening house fire can happen in minutes.
WFRS is urging residents to follow essential safety steps, including always use water to fully extinguish cigarettes before disposal, never smoke in bed, on a sofa when tired, or after consuming alcohol, never use plastic bins, flowerpots, or hedges as an ashtray and keep balconies and gardens clear of dry leaves, paper, or flammable decorations that can easily catch a stray spark.
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/home-fire-safety-tips for safety advice surrounding smoking, or visit www.Smokefreecw.co.uk for local stop-smoking support.
