How Smoking Causes Home Fires
You may be thinking you know all about the health risks of smoking, however, cigarettes pose significant risks beyond personal health, extending into our homes and endangering lives and property.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) highlights the scary reality that cigarettes are a leading cause of house fire deaths in the United States, resulting in tragic consequences year after year.
Smoking In The Bedroom
Smoking indoors (especially in the bedroom) is extremely dangerous. A dropped cigarette or even a single ember can quickly ignite curtains, furniture, and carpets, leaving the room completely engulfed in flames.
Smoking in bed remains the leading cause of fire-related deaths. The combination of flammable bedding materials and the risk of smokers falling asleep while holding a lit cigarette is a recipe for disaster.
A fire doubles in size every 30 seconds and if you're asleep there's nothing you can do to stop the fire while it is still small. Preventing these fires can save you thousands of dollars and could even save your life.
The Cost of Cigarette Damage
Cigarettes don't cost that much, but if your cigarette starts a fire, that can be incredibly expensive.
In 2023, there were 7,000 residential building fires caused by smoking, which resulted in $408,700,000 in dollar loss.
That's an average of $58,385 per house!
By prioritizing fire safety you can save yourself $58,385... Now that's a good deal!
3 Rules to Prevent Smoking Fires
Mitigating these risks should be your top priority. Here are 3 rules to implement right away to help prevent disaster:
- Only smoke outdoors
- Have a designated cigarette disposal in a non-combustible container
- Make sure smoke alarms are plugged in, have batteries, and test them regularly
Smoking is a big fire risk so make sure you are also following all other fire prevention advice such as cooking and electrical safety to keep you and your home safe.
Educating for Prevention
Education and awareness are paramount in addressing the risks of cigarettes for home fires.
By informing our friends, family, and tenants of the dangers of smoking indoors and advocating for fire safety measures, we can reduce cigarette-related house fires, save lives, and protect our homes from preventable disasters.
If you are interested in other ways to keep your home safe from fires check out this post "Keeping Your Home Safe" and equip your home with a FireAvert Auto Stove Shutoff device to prevent cooking fires, the top cause of home fires.