Smoking/fire safety tips for smokers

If you or someone in your home smokes you can take the following simple steps to prevent a fire from happening in your home.

• Never smoke in bed - if you need to lie down, don't light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire

• Take extra care when you're tired, taking any sort of drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning

• Take extra care when smoking if you have been drinking alcohol or taking medication

• Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished. Put it out, right out !

• Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended - they can easily overbalance as they burn down

• Use a proper, heavy, ashtray that can't tip over easily and is made of a material that won't burn. Make sure your cigarette is not still burning when you are finished - put it out, right out

• Do not empty your ashtray into a bin because this can cause the bin to catch fire. A drop of water in the ashtray will help to make it safe, then leave it to cool down fully.

• Fit and maintain a smoke alarm - A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and dial 999. You can get a ten-year smoke alarm for roughly the same price as two packets of cigarettes

How safe is your home?

Complete our online home safety check and you will get a personalised fire safety plan, which will offer advice on how to prevent fires in your home.

Do the online home safety check

Safe and well visit

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service offer a free 'Safe and Well Visit' for people who are aged over 65 and for people who are referred to us by partner agencies because they are considered to be at a particular risk.

Safe and Well Visits incorporate the traditional fire safety information (and smoke alarm fitting), but also offer additional advice on slips, trips, fall prevention and bowel cancer screening.

Book a Safe and Well Visit for over 65's

Last updated: Thursday 14 September 2017