http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/fires.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=116359 http://tobacco.org/news/298937.html The launch of a wide range of electronic cigarettes by Electronic Cigarettes Inc. paves the way for a much safer existence for families across America. Statistics say that as many as 5.5% of all house fires in the country were a direct resultant of smoking cigarettes, while 4.5% were caused by children playing with smoking supplies such as matches or lighters. In the case of electric cigarettes, this risk is completely eliminated as they do not have a facet of being lit at all. The red, glowing light that you witness at the end of most common e cigarettes while puffing on them, is nothing but an LED light meant to replicate the experience of smoking a conventional cigarette. Thus, with electronic cigarettes, the risk of fires is eliminated as you do not need any other smoking paraphernalia such as lighters or matches. Puff on them as you will, and when done, keep them aside, be it on your sofa, bed or cupboard. Irrespective of where you choose to store them, you can be assured that there would be no possibility of any fire arising. OfficialWire sales@electroniccigarettesinc.com (Electronic Cigarettes) Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2010/03/21/13310271.html http://tobacco.org/news/298936.html Some residents of the massive Millrise condo complex blaze sparked by a cigarette say what's done is done and aren't pointing fingers at the accidental firestarter. Miro Pull, who is a smoker and lives on the second floor of the Millrise building that was heavily damaged by a three-alrm fire on Friday said though a bad situation, he's just trying to look ahead. . . . "I don't look at the bad things." He said he doesn't have any ill will towards someone who left a cigarette smouldering in a flower pot on the balcony on the fourth floor. "I feel bad for the guy Calgary Sun callet@calgarysun.com (KATIE SCHNEIDER, Calgary Sun) Canada Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2010/03/21/13305316.html http://tobacco.org/news/298935.html The massive fire at a southwest condo complex was sparked by a cigarette left smouldering in a flower pot on a fourth-floor balcony, several sources say. Hundreds of people who rent or own suites in the Millrise building were escorted in by fire crews Saturday to salvage whatever belongings they could. Tom Sampson, head of the city's Emergency Management Agency, said he expects the cause of the fire to be released officially in upcoming days. . . . The city's stance is it is uninhabitable, but it is up to the condo board to decide whether to rebuild or demolish the structure. The fire forced about 300 people from their homes in the 159-unit complex. . . . Many residents do not have insurance to cover lost belongings, mortgage payments and other costs, and donations are pouring in to various agencies. Calgary Sun nadia.moharib@sunmedia.ca (NADIA MOHARIB, CALGARY SUN) Canada Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/147094 http://tobacco.org/news/298924.html The final Assembly vote on Senate Bill 4, a statewide effort to protect California´s coastal landscape and state parks, is expected to occur as soon as Monday. On a day when the Assembly had several absences, the measure by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, fell just shy of the necessary 41-vote majority on her plan to ban smoking at state beaches and designated areas of state parks. A full house is expected Monday. SB 4, the No Smoking at State Parks and Beaches Act, would establish a fine of up to $100 for smoking at a state beach or park. It was recently amended to allow the state Department of Parks and Recreation, citing enforcement concerns, to designate areas where smoking is banned. More than 50 groups and organizations support Oropeza´s bill, including the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach and Torrance, as well as state firefighters, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. California Chronicle Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/84771/Cigarette-may-have-started-daycare-fire- http://tobacco.org/news/298703.html Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue officials say a cigarette may be to blame for a Wednesday afternoon fire at a daycare. Crews responded to reports of smoke coming from a building on Grenville Avenue at around 5:30 p.m. . . . Firefighters believe a cigarette butt fell from the second floor and landed inside a wall, where it continued to burn. Officials believe the cigarette could have been burning inside the wall for hours. TBNewsWatch   Canada Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/03/17/990965/fatal-perry-street-fire-blamed.html http://tobacco.org/news/298685.html A woman in her 40s died late Wednesday, shortly after fire broke out in her first-floor apartment in the Commodore Perry projects, fire officials said. The fire, linked to careless smoking, broke out about 10:30 p.m. at 391 Perry St., officials said. Buffalo News citydesk@buffnews.com Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://cbs5.com/local/pinole.house.fire.2.1570484.html http://tobacco.org/news/298683.html A house fire that killed a woman in Pinole early Monday morning was started by a cigarette she had been smoking in bed, Pinole Fire Chief Jim Parrott said Wednesday. The fire was reported at 4:52 a.m. in a single-family home in the 2300 block of Tennent Court. . . . Two of the residents, a 48-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, were able to escape from the house, but the woman, identified by Parrot as 48-year-old Terri Vancuren, died in the fire. KPIX CBS 5 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/18/2849377.htm?section=justin http://tobacco.org/news/298670.html Anti-smoking campaigners have welcomed the fast-tracking of legislation that will make self-extinguishing cigarettes mandatory in Australia from next week. . . . Anti-smoking academic Professor Simon Chapman from Sydney University says the move is overdue. "This is something that could have happened many years ago," he said. "The tobacco industry have had the technology to do this but they've deliberately decided not to because they've put the preference of smokers to have cigarettes which don't go out ahead of community safety. "That should be condemned in the strongest possible terms." Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australia Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/high-fire-risk-cigarettes-banned-20100318-qguk.html http://tobacco.org/news/298668.html A new ban on high fire risk cigarettes will prevent thousands of blazes each year, the NSW Fire Brigade says. Fire Brigade commissioner Greg Mullins says that from next Tuesday only cigarettes designed to self-extinguish can be produced or imported into Australia. "The new cigarettes, when not smoked actively will put themselves out," he told reporters on Thursday. But he added, "People need to know that no cigarette is safe," he said. AAP Australia Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://nems360.com/pages/full_story/push?article-UPDATE- Governor signs ban on toylike lighters%20&id=6727052&instance=secondary_stories_left_column http://tobacco.org/news/298572.html Cigarette lighters that look like toys would be banned, under a bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Haley Barbour. The law takes effect July 1 and prohibits the sale of novelty lighters. AP Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Homeowners-Quit-Smoking-and-Save-Pounds-on-their-Insurance-Policies-1132046.htm http://tobacco.org/news/298515.html UK smokers are forking out at least 20% more on home insurance than their non-smoking counterparts, according to leading high street insurance retailer, Swinton. With nearly a third of all house fires caused by smoking and more and more people smoking at home as a result of the smoking ban, smokers are often perceived by home insurance providers as higher risk resulting in more expensive premiums. Steve Chelton, Insurance Development Manager at Swinton said, "Smoking is an expensive habit in itself, but many people do not realise the implications it can have on their household insurance policies. Most insurers will now ask if you are a smoker. British non-smokers could save up to 20% on their house insurance which offers an additional incentive to quit." MarketWire anoushka.done@skvcommunications.co.uk UK Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_670939.html http://tobacco.org/news/298419.html A Penn Hills woman died early Wednesday in her burning home, despite attempts by two neighbors to break down her door and save her. Patricia Ainsworth, 64, died of burns and smoke inhalation injuries, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office. Firefighters found Ainsworth's body near the front door of her home on Madison Road, authorities said. She died at the scene about 4:35 a.m., 15 minutes after neighbors reported the fire, authorities said. . . . Firefighters arrived about 4:25 a.m. and pulled Ainsworth's body out of the first-floor living room she used as a bedroom, Penn Hills Fire Marshal Jack Mason said. Firefighters contained the fire to the first floor, he said. The fire appears to be accidental, probably caused by smoking, Mason said. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review mharding@tribweb.com (Margaret Harding PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW) Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_671148.html http://tobacco.org/news/298415.html A Derry man who was rescued from his burning apartment building Thursday morning and later died told firefighters he had been smoking in bed. Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha identified the man as James Gamble, 60, of 216 N. Chestnut St. He was pronounced dead at 3:32 a.m. at Excela Health Latrobe Hospital. Bacha said an autopsy was performed yesterday, and Gamble's death was listed as accidental. Bacha said Gamble had several pre-existing health conditions. He attributed his death to hypertension and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, due to physiological stress resulting from the house fire. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review mpickels@tribweb.com (Mary Pickels TRIBUNE-REVIEW) Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10069/1041583-100.stm?cmpid=news.xml http://tobacco.org/news/298298.html A Penn Hills woman believed to have been smoking in bed died this morning when her bed caught fire and burned part of her house. Patricia Ainsworth, 64, was found dead about five feet from the front door of her home in the 5700 block of Madison Road. Fire officials believe she died of smoke inhalation but are waiting for confirmation from the medical examiner's office, which is conducting an autopsy. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/5051056.Dorset_smokers_urged_to_quit_after_house_fire_research_revealed/ http://tobacco.org/news/298267.html SMOKERS in Dorset have been urged to stub their habit out after new research revealed that a third of accidental house Fire victims died in blazes sparked by cigarettes. Despite the shocking statistics, fewer than half of smokers are aware that cigarettes are the biggest cause of fatal house fires. Dorset Fire and Rescue Service reported an unprecedented rise in fire related deaths in 2008, with six relating to smoking in the first nine months of the year. Dorset Echo UK Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT