Smokers are being urged by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) to be careful with their cigarettes, or give up completely, after a fire in Walworth last week.
A small pile of rubbish on the tenth floor of a Thurlow Street block caught alight in the early hours of Saturday, October 29, probably because of “unsafe disposal of smoking materials”.
Five fire engines and 35 firefighters from Old Kent Road, Peckham, Dockhead, Lambeth and Dowgate fire stations were deployed, bringing the blaze under control by 3.25am.
As LFB backs #Stoptober, the 28-day stop smoking challenge, a spokesperson has said: “It’s incredibly challenging to give up smoking but we have been backing #Stoptober as research proves if you quit for 28 days then you’re five times more likely to quit for good. Giving up smoking can not only prevent fires but the health benefits are countless.
“As the weather gets chilly, more people may be tempted to smoke indoors. But as we’ve seen from recent incidents we’ve attended; this increases the risk of fire. Discarding cigarettes, without ensuring they’re completely extinguished first, not only puts yourself at risk but also your family, friends and neighbours. Quitting the habit is a surefire way to alleviate the fire risk.”
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Firefighters’ smoking safety tips:
- Use proper ashtrays, which can’t tip over and stub cigarettes out properly.
- Don’t leave lit pipes or cigarettes unattended.
- It’s safer to smoke outside, but make sure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of properly.
- Don’t balance cigars or cigarettes on the edge of an ashtray, or anything else – they can tip and fall as they burn away and cause a fire.
- Take extra care when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs or if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
- Always empty ashtrays carefully. Make sure smoking materials are out, cold and preferably wet them before throwing into a bin – never use a wastepaper basket.