Tobacco.org

Cigarette May Have Started Deadly Blaze  

Fire investigators believe a cigarette may have started the fire that killed a Belvidere couple early Monday morning. State fire marshal, Al Christie says a van caught fire and spread to the garage and house.

80-year-old Thomas Carrico and his 79-year-old wife, Helen, were inside at the time.

Christie says Thomas was a heavy smoker, and suspects a full ashtray or a smoldering cigarette caused the fire.

Jump to full article »

Greenfield apartment complex fire caused by careless disposal of hand-rolled cigarette, state fire marshal's office says  

Investigators have determined that the cause of the fire that displaced 21 tenants from a residential and commercial complex on Chapman Street earlier this month was caused by improper disposal of a cigarette.

The fast-moving fire at 29 Chapman St. started in the living room of one of the third floor apartments, according to a news released issued by State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan.

The fire, which destroyed the building, was reported on Nov. 8 about 8:30 a.m. It took firefighters from about 25 communities about three hours to get it under control.

The cigarette was hand-rolled and not fire standard compliant, Jennifer L. Mieth, a spokeswoman for Coan, said.

Jump to full article »

Fire triggered by cigarette envelopes sleeping couple; man dies, wife hurt  

CHENNAI: A 36-year-old man died and his wife suffered severe burn injuries in a fire that broke out in their house in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar on Monday night. The couple were sleeping when the mishap occurred. The police said the incident could have been triggered by the man carelessly throwing away a burning cigarette end after a few drinks before going to sleep.

According to the police, Krishnan, a carpenter who hails from Tiruvannamalai, and his wife Lakshmi (30) have two children. While their son was living at one a relative's house in Tiruvannamalai, their daughter stayed with them.

Jump to full article »

Officials checking for fire-safe cigarettes 

Whether or not smokers like it, beginning Jan. 1, 2010 Oklahoma retailers will only be allowed to sell fire safe cigarettes.

"Some folks don't like the fire safe cigarettes, primarily because they go out and they (smokers) get tired of sitting there and relighting them," said Oklahoma State Fire Marshal Tommie Rhoades.

But this inconvenience must be weighed against the National Fire Protection Association statistics that show that "30,000 fires every year across the United States are attributed to cigarettes and smoking related material," Rhoades said, adding that "from those 30,000 fires, we have 700 to 900 fatalities."

"We also have firefighters lose their lives fighting those fires," the fire marshal said.

It is in consideration of these lives that the state legislature passed the Fire Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act, which went into effect earlier this year, Rhoades said.

Jump to full article »

Cigarettes cause brush fire 

Improperly discarded cigarette butts started a small brush fire Sunday afternoon at Wilderness Cove Apartments in Beaufort, a Fire Department spokesman said.

Tenants at the complex on Talbird Road had put out most of the fire before firefighters responded just before 2 p.m., Lt. Dan Byrne said.

Part of the building's side melted during the small blaze, causing about $1,000 or less in damage, Byrne said.

Sunday's incident provided another example of what happens when people step outside their residence or a business to smoke and throw their cigarette butts on the ground instead of putting them in a proper receptacle, Byrne said.

"We have a rash of these fires usually in the summertime," Byrne said.

Jump to full article »

Cigarette, oxygen bottles fuel fire that destroys couple's Port Townsend duplex  

A cigarette and oxygen bottles combined to fuel a fire that destroyed a home early Wednesday morning, leaving its two residents homeless.

The fire, accompanied by explosions heard from miles away from the home at 1068 Cedar St., destroyed Unit B of a single- story duplex. . . .

Jay Reynolds, who was on oxygen for a health condition, often would get up in the night, light a cigarette and step outside to smoke it, Keplinger said fire investigators determined.

Early Wednesday morning, he apparently lit a cigarette, stood up to go outside and passed out or had a seizure, she said.

"He fell to the floor and pulled a tube on the oxygen tank loose," Keplinger said.

Jump to full article »

Death of mother and children in house fire a 'total shock' to neighbors 

The neighbors were able to convince the little girl to jump into their yard to safety as the house was destroyed by flames. Kennetha Gay, and two other children, 3-month-old Kenron Treadwell and 4-year-old Mirrisa Gay perished in the blaze. A 6-year-old boy walked out the back door unharmed.

Tina Tackett, another neighbor, said the deaths have rocked the normally quiet residential street in the city's east side. "They were some of the nicest, kindest people you'll ever meet in your life," Tackett said. "It's a total shock." . . .

Firefighters suspect Kennetha may have fallen asleep on a downstairs couch while smoking, sparking the blaze. She got out of the home only to run back inside to try to save her children. She couldn't escape the fire a second time.

Tacket and the Allens said the smoking scenario is uncharacteristic of Kennetha, who was a doting mother. "I don't believe it," said Janis Allen. "She was an excellent mother."

Jump to full article »

Lit cigarette, oxygen tank fuel Port Townsend fire 

Firefighters say a lit cigarette and oxygen tanks likely fueled a blaze that destroyed a home early Wednesday, leaving two people homeless.

East Jefferson Fire Rescue spokeswoman Keppie Keplinger says a man who lived at the single story duplex used oxygen tanks for health problems - and that he had the habit of lighting up a cigarette outside in the evenings.

Keplinger says that apparently the man suffered a seizure or passed out, and pulled the oxygen tank loose near the lit cigarette.

Jump to full article »

VIDEO: Man, 86, Dies In Long Island House Fire  

A fatal house fire broke out at a Nassau County house early Thursday morning in Long Island.

The two and a half story home located at 10 Sutton Lane in Hewlett was already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at around 3 a.m.

The body of an 86-year-old man was found dead inside a second floor bathroom. Firefighters say the man was the homeowner and the only person in the home at the time of the fire. . . .

"We have indication from family members on the scene that the deceased was a heavy smoker and, at times, was possibly careless in the way he smoked and used his smoking materials," Nassau County Fire Marshall Vincent McManus told PIX News, "That's one thing we'll be looking at as far as [the] cause [of the fire]."

Jump to full article »

Holocaust Survivor Dies In Long Island House Fire  

A Holocaust survivor has been killed in a fire on Long Island that may have been sparked by a cigarette.

The Nassau County fire marshal says Adam Rafalowicz was found dead inside his Hewlett, Long Island, home on 10 Sutton Lane. Officials said the two-story home sustained a partial collapse as a result of the blaze.

An official cause has yet to be determined. But Fire Marshal Vincent McManus says the victim had a reputation as a careless smoker.

Jump to full article »

Cigarette suspected in fatal Seabrook fire  

Officials suspect a discarded cigarette may have caused a fatal fire at a Collins Street home early Saturday morning.

Fire officials determined the blaze that killed Charles Hewitt, 20, originated on the rear porch of 41 Collins St. The area in question, according to New Hampshire fire investigator Tom Riley, was used by those who lived there as a smoking area.

Jump to full article »

Man dies in Seattle fire started by smoker 

One man was killed and another injured in a fire early this morning that the Seattle Fire Department says was started by smoking in bed.

The fire was reported about 2:30 a.m. in an older house that had been converted to apartments.

Jump to full article »

Light Up the Night at cigar street party 

A cigar street party, Light Up the Night, will benefit the Tampa Firefighters Museum and the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation.

The event will be from 7 to 11 p.m. Nov. 20 at the firefighters museum, 720 E. Zack St.

Jack Harris is the emcee for the evening, and cigar celebrities include Carlito Fuente Jr. from Tabacalera A. Fuente & Co., as well as Bobby and Eric Newman of J.C. Newman Cigars. The evening will include food, rum, beer, wine, cigars, entertainment by the Mainstream band, a silent auction of rare cigar items, a cigar-rolling contest and a charitable casino.

Jump to full article »

Fire Safe Cigarette Registration and Approval Information (PDF) 

Public Act 56 of 2009 known as the Fire Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act (attached) provides for the regulation of the sale and distribution of fire safe cigarettes. These cigarettes are specifically manufactured to self-extinguish if they are left unattended. As careless smoking is the second leading cause of home fire related deaths and injuries in the United States, this legislation will result in saving lives. Michigan is one of 49 states to have this type of law, which takes effect on January 1, 2010.

Cigarette manufacturers are required to register their cigarette brand families and pay a fee of $1250 for each brand family in order to sell these cigarettes in Michigan. After January 1, 2010, it will be unlawful to sell non-compliant cigarettes in Michigan that have tax stamps after that date. Packaging for these cigarettes are required by law to have a special mark called the Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) mark indicating that the cigarettes meet certified laboratory low ignition standards. These marks must be submitted to the State Fire Marshal for approval.

The brand family registration process currently under development will consist of an on- line registration and payment process for brand families and associated styles (brands). . . .

Beginning November 9, 2009, the approval process for the FSC packaging mark will consist of the manufacturer simply sending an email with an illustration of the FSC mark that meets the requirements of the law attached as a PDF file to statefiremarshal@michigan.gov the request will be reviewed and an approval email will be sent to the manufacturer within five business days.

Jump to full article »

Michigan’s Fire Safe Cigarette Law Takes Effect January 1, 2010 Manufacturers Required to Certify Self-Extinguishing Cigarettes with State 

State Fire Marshal Ronald R. Farr today announced that cigarette manufacturers must certify their brand families and associated styles as fire safe in order to sell them in Michigan after January 1, 2010. The Fire Standard Compliant (FSC) mark approval process for manufacturers begins today.

This is in accordance with Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signing into law Public Act 56 of 2009, the Fire Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act, which provides for the regulation of the sale and distribution of fire safe cigarettes. These cigarettes are specifically manufactured to self-extinguish if left unattended. The new law goes into effect January 1, 2010.

"This law will have a significant impact on reducing the number of fires, associated deaths, injuries, and property damage caused by discarded or unattended smoking materials," said Farr. "Because these cigarettes are less likely to ignite fires, this law is a big step in fire protection for Michigan citizens."

Jump to full article »