Fire chief’s warning to smokers

12:26pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

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LANCASHIRE'S top fireman is urging smokers to give up the habit - to increase fire safety.

Chief fire officer Peter Holland said home fires caused by smoking are one of the biggest killers in the UK.

And he said it was another reason for smokers to quit on No Smoking Day, which is taking place tomorrow.

Mr Holland said: "A smouldering cigarette is the biggest cause of fatal fires, causing one third of all deaths from fires in the home.

"We know that these fires are more likely to start during the night and that some of the most common places for them to start are sofas, beds and carpets."

Each year nationally 1,770 people are either killed or injured by fires caused by smoking at home.

Around a third of these fires occur between 10pm and 3am, so Lancashire Fire Service are urging people to take care when smoking at home, particularly in the evening.

The sitting room and the bedroom are the main danger sites.