States aim to prevent residential fires by requiring 'fire safe' cigarettes
By Stephanie K. Jones, Insurance Journal
January 31, 2008
Movies - think Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in "The Big Sleep" - often make cigarette smoking look glamorous. Of course, in reality, the practice is anything but. In addition to being a leading cause of cancer and other diseases, cigarette smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths.
New cigarettes escape spotlight
By Annie Reed, Chicago Suburban News
January 15, 2008 -- Westmont, IL -- Smokers noticing their cigarettes are going out more or are harder to keep lit are not imagining things. Overshadowed by the frenzy surrounding the state smoking ban, another new law took effect Jan. 1 requiring all cigarettes to be “fire safety cigarettes.” These cigarettes, often referred to as low-ignition, cause the cigarette to extinguish on its own if not consistently inhaled.
Some still selling non-fire-safe cigarettes despite Oregon ban
By Melica Johnson and KATU Web Staff
January 1, 2008 -- Salem, OR -- A new law that took effect Tuesday requires all cigaretes sold in Oregon to be "fire-safe". But KATU easily found stores willing to sell non-fire-safe cigarettes illegially.
Coming soon: Fire-safe cigs; Big fines for smokes that don't extinguish themselves
By Tom Benner, Patriot Ledger State House Bureau
November 15, 2007 -- Boston, MA -- Come the first of the year, Massachusetts smokers will be saying goodbye to the leisurely smoke. Starting Jan. 1, only cigarettes that are self-extinguishing will be legal for sale in this state. The so-called fire-safe kind go out by themselves unless they are puffed on frequently.
Police seize counterfeit cigarettes in New York
By The Associated Press
August 13, 2007 -- Mineola, NY -- Authorities seized nearly 600,000 packs of cigarettes with brand names like Marlboros and Newports, half of which are suspected of being conterfeits from China, prosecutors said Monday.
'Fire-Safe' Cigarettes Rule Sought by EU
By Reuters News Service
July 6, 2007 -- Brussels, Belgium -- The EU's consumer chief aims to prevent thousands of fire-related deaths and injuries each year by making all cigarettes sold in the EU countries self-extinguishing, European Commission officials said.
'Fire safe' requirements for cigarettes make inroads on state level
By Peter Eisler, USA TODAY
May 9, 2007 -- WASHINGTON — When lobbyist Michael Baroody first staked out his opposition to state rules requiring the sale of "fire safe" cigarettes, it didn't get much attention — most states hadn't even considered such a law. Seven years later, 11 states have mandated that all cigarettes sold within their borders meet fire-safe standards, meaning they're designed to go out if dropped or set aside.
'Fire-Safe' Tobacco Mandates Multiply
By Molly Selvin, Los Angeles Times
June 10, 2006 -- The tobacco industry is under growing pressure to offer "fire-safe" cigarettes nationally, as more states join California in mandating the product. Safety experts say that such cigarettes, which burn out more quickly if a smoker does not take a drag, dramatically reduce the risk of house fires.
New Coalition and a call to action
By NFPA President James M. Shannon, NFPA Journal®, May/June 2006
NFPA has organized a new group whose goal is to bring about the adoption of laws requiring that all cigarettes sold in the United States be made using a technology that makes them far less likely to cause fires.
States target cigarette fire risks
By Peter Eisler, USA TODAY
May 9, 2006 -- A growing number of states are pushing to combat the top cause of fire deaths by requiring tobacco companies to sell only "fire safe" cigarettes, which go out more quickly if left unattended.
'Safe' cigarettes sometimes snuffed
By Peter Eisler, USA TODAY
May 9, 2006 -- The story line for the fire at Francis DeLeo's home in February was familiar to Montgomery County firefighters: a senior citizen, a cigarette, a tragic death.
U.S. tobacco resists 'fire safe' smokes
The Washington Times/UPI
May 9, 2006 -- Despite resistance from U.S. tobacco companies, a growing number of states are legislating for "fire safe" cigarettes that go out by themselves when set down.
The Choice is Simple
By NFPA President James M. Shannon, NFPA Journal®, November/December 2005
In my last column, I wrote that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was deciding whether to sign into law the fire-safe cigarette bill that had been passed by the legislature. I am happy to report that on October 7, the governor signed the bill into law.
Fire-Safe Cigarettes: The Time Has Come
By NFPA President James M. Shannon, NFPA Journal®, September/October 2005
For years, NFPA has worked with the fire service, safety advocates, and political leaders in Washington and across the country to require cigarette manufacturers to make cigarettes that either extinguish themselves or burn at such a low temperature that they will not ignite furniture or mattresses.
Burning Question: U.S. Suit Alleges Philip Morris Hid Cigarette-Fire Risk
Wall Street Journal, April 23, 2004 (PDF, 34 KB)
The Onling Struggle to Reduce Fires Ignited by Cigarettes in One Congressman's Legacy
U.S. Representative Edward Markey, NFPA Journal®, Nov/Dec 2002 (PDF, 923 KB)
|
top of page
