House fires caused by smoking on the rise (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
Send us your pictures, video, news and views by texting DST to 80360 or email us
House fires caused by smoking in Redcar and Cleveland on the rise
3:59pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Chris Pleasance
FIRES caused by smoking are on the rise prompting fire services to call for people to quit on no smoking day.
Four house fires were caused by cigarettes in the North-East in just one month this year, with one in Redcar and Cleveland.
If this trend continued for the whole of 2013 it would be a four fold increase on 2012, when there were only three fires in Redcar and Cleveland.
Cleveland Fire Brigade warn that smokers are one and a half times more likely to have a house fire.
Phil Lancaster, director of community protection, said: “People know the health risks caused by cigarettes but they should not underestimate the threats associated with smoking in the home if cigarettes are not extinguished properly.
“Smokers are putting themselves and their families at risk from fire and the best way to reduce this risk is to give up smoking.”
National no smoking day is Wednesday, March 13.
Cleveland Fire Brigade offers a free home fire safety visit where free smoke alarms will be supplied and fitted if needed. Call 01429-874063 to arrange a visit.
