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