Fire-Safe Cigarette?

H

Hwy99

New Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
6,125
Reaction score
1
Olympia touts fire-safe cigarette

Did you know?
Nearly 71 percent of the cigarette-caused fires that killed 50 people in Washington in 2007 occurred in homes with no working smoke alarms.
The Vancouver Fire Department recently has been installing free smoke alarms in homes of people with physical or financial limitations. Some are a new dual-technology kind that sense both flaming fires and slow, smoky ones. To request a free detector, call 360-696-8166.
The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes Web site is www.firesafecigarettes.org.
You can visit the Washington Fire Marshal’s pages at Washington State Patrol Home Page, and the Washington State Association of Fire Marshals at Washington State Association of Fire Marshals: Welcome.
The National Fire Protection Association’s site is NFPA.

Monday, February 25, 2008
By JOHN BRANTON, Columbian staff writer

Law regulating sales works way through Legislature



Washington lawmakers appear to be on the verge of riding a national wave to require that only so-called fire-safe cigarettes can be sold here.

A bill has easily passed the Washington state Senate, saying that only fire-safe cigarettes can be sold beginning Aug. 1, 2009.

The measure is scheduled for a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the House Committee on Commerce and Labor in Olympia. Further action could occur later this week.

If it becomes law, it will save lives, says Vancouver Fire Marshal Jim Crawford.

“We’ve been pushing for this legislation since the late ’70s,” he said. “It’s one of our worst fire problems, and this legislation would help.”

Fire-safe cigarettes use special bands of less-porous paper that tend to cause a cigarette to go out if a smoker stops puffing too long.

Tests show the paper bands often can prevent an initially smoldering fire when a smoker falls asleep — or passes out from fatigue, alcohol and/or drugs — and the cigarette falls onto bedding or upholstery.

Such cigarettes also are called fire-safer cigarettes, to emphasize that some fires could occur with them, and that smokers still should avoid smoking in bed or while drowsy.

“It’s not a guarantee,” Crawford said.

Top cause of fire deaths


As in past years, careless smoking was the No. 1 cause of fire deaths in Washington in 2007.

Of the 50 who died in all fires in Washington last year, nine died in blazes directly caused by cigarettes, according to state Fire Marshal Michael Matlick.

That’s 18 percent in 2007, and it was 20 percent over the past five years.

Nationwide, careless smoking caused about 4 percent of residential fires, but that 4 percent accounted for 18 percent of fire fatalities, according to Matlick’s bulletin.

Careless smoking is the leading cause of fatal residential fires nationwide, says the National Fire Protection Association.

“Each year in this country, 700 to 900 people die in cigarette-ignited fires,” according to the association’s Web site. “One quarter of those people killed — often including children and the elderly — are not the smoker.”

Many such fires occur in bedrooms, living rooms or family rooms, late at night or in wee morning hours when the occupants are sleeping, officials say.

That’s also a time when there may be few passers-by who might see smoke or flames and call 911.

About the proposal


Washington’s proposed law provides for civil penalties from $500 to $5,000 if retailers violate it. And it says state officials can inspect sellers’ cigarettes and records.

The law also makes provisions for wholesalers or retailers to continue offering their existing inventory after it takes effect, if they can show it was tax-stamped or purchased before that.

The state Senate version gathered 47 yes votes on Feb. 19.

The nationwide movement toward fire-safe cigarettes began in New York in 2004.

Two years later, the Associated Press reported that cigarette-fire deaths had fallen significantly from previous years.

Currently, there are at least 22 states in which laws are in effect or legislation has been passed or filed.

Oregon’s law took effect Jan. 1. Beginning Saturday, retailers must comply or face civil penalties.

Fire-safe cigarettes also are required in California and across Canada.

Southern push


Legislation has been passed in several Southern states, including Texas, Louisiana and North Carolina, and has been filed in Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia.

According to the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, only 11 states had not filed legislation by late 2007.

Cigarette makers initially complained of difficulties in getting the special paper but now some seem to have accepted the inevitable.

Philip Morris USA, the nation’s leading cigarette maker, supports federal legislation that would ensure consistent standards from state to state.

But the company doesn’t oppose state laws if they are based on New York’s technical specifications, according to its Web site, Philip Morris USA Home.

Another cigarette giant, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., has announced plans to use fire-safe paper on all its brands by the end of 2009.

John Branton covers public safety, crime and law enforcement for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com. Staff writer Kathie Durbin contributed to this report.
Click to expand...

Your thoughts?
 
VamPyroX said:
Simple... don't smoke!
Click to expand...

No joke--the best answer for safety on lots of levels.

I edit manuscripts. I just sent a draft back to a local writer who rigged a simple timing device to set a fire in her story. It's a cigarette wedged into a book of matches so when the tobacco and paper burn to the matches in five minutes or so, they ignite and set off a puddle of gasoline.

Alas, no whoosh!

Since the story takes place in present day Oregon, my suggestion was to have the arsonist get cigarettes from somewhere else, since after the first of this year, Oregon cigarettes will go out unless someone take a drag every few seconds.

Technology's a bitch--why editors have to keep up or kvit. (This is a great site for curious slants and current events.)
 
The problem with fires had occurs is when people smoke irresponsible. People need to watch their cigarette, make sure it's in the ashtray, or hold on to it, or make sure it's out if done with a cigarette.

I've seen a drunk guy who was holding his cigarette and fell asleep with a cigarette in his hand, on the couch, I took the cigarette away from him. He could have got the couch on fire, or himself on fire.
 
holding on it tight how it is possible if someone felling asleep not realizing what happen next. I have seen that my mom does that falling asleep and I wake her up and said put that away before you burn your house down. And she did.
 
Cheri said:
The problem with fires had occurs is when people smoke irresponsible. People need to watch their cigarette, make sure it's in the ashtray, or hold on to it, or make sure it's out if done with a cigarette.

I've seen a drunk guy who was holding his cigarette and fell asleep with a cigarette in his hand, on the couch, I took the cigarette away from him. He could have got the couch on fire, or himself on fire.
Click to expand...

Yupp exactly, mostly of the time when smoker burn the house with the cigarette was when he/she wasn't pay attention to the cigarette, also let you know, when drunk and sleep with the cigarette is far the worst because the alcohol is flammable, while cigarette is not a big flammable unless it goes with the alcohol or gases.
 
I 'm all for it. Something needs to be done to prevent any further death that are preventable.
 
Just because it is fire safe, it doesn't mean that it is guaranteed 100%.

It might help in a way but it also takes the responsibility of a smoker to ensure the safety of extinguishing the cigarette after using it.
 
lumbingmi said:
I 'm all for it. Something needs to be done to prevent any further death that are preventable.
Click to expand...

*nods agree*

Jolie_77 said:
Just because it is fire safe, it doesn't mean that it is guaranteed 100%.

It might help in a way but it also takes the responsibility of a smoker to ensure the safety of extinguishing the cigarette after using it.
Click to expand...

Yeah you are right, "fire-safe" doesn't mean it will never be fire out, the cigarette can be flammable if it attach with something that will make flamming fire out of the cigarette's burning.
 
Cheri said:
The problem with fires had occurs is when people smoke irresponsible. People need to watch their cigarette, make sure it's in the ashtray, or hold on to it, or make sure it's out if done with a cigarette.

I've seen a drunk guy who was holding his cigarette and fell asleep with a cigarette in his hand, on the couch, I took the cigarette away from him. He could have got the couch on fire, or himself on fire.
Click to expand...
That's why my friends always have "smoking areas" at their parties. They're either in the back yard or the front yard... as long as it's not in the house. They do it for two reasons... to respect those who don't smoke and to reduce the risk of accidental fires.
 
When I was 6 years old I ran into my dad cigarette and my dress caught fire, my mom had to rip off my dress to keep from going up in flames. I still have the burn mark on my finger.
 
pepsiwoman said:
When I was 6 years old I ran into my dad cigarette and my dress caught fire, my mom had to rip off my dress to keep from going up in flames. I still have the burn mark on my finger.
Click to expand...
Ouch. I'm glad you're all-right. :hug:
 
pepsiwoman said:
When I was 6 years old I ran into my dad cigarette and my dress caught fire, my mom had to rip off my dress to keep from going up in flames. I still have the burn mark on my finger.
Click to expand...

Wow, glad you are allright :)
 
pepsiwoman said:
Thanks, I remember how bad it hurt. My mom cuss my father out for that.
Click to expand...

No problemo :) I never like when adults or parents act careless about children with the drugs, I was in motorcycle accident and almost killed me when I was 4 years old by a old drunk woman driving the car...
 
Bowak said:
i wouldnt care..i dont smoke :p

fire safe cigs? right....
Click to expand...

I have seen some of cigarette burning actually dissolve before whole of the tobacco turn into ash. Plus I am a smoker and I know. ;)
 
Back
Top