Help prevent smoking-related fires

Carelessly discarded smoking materials is one of the leading causes of fires in Ontario. Most deaths result from fires that start in living rooms, family rooms, dens or bedrooms. If you smoke, do your part to help prevent these types of fires from occurring. 

Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service has the following tips for residents to keep top of mind: 

• Smoke outside and away from combustible materials.
• Extinguish every cigarette or cigar fully and soak well in water prior to disposal.
• Dispose of cigarettes in a proper ashtray or metal can, that won’t tip or burn.
• Never toss a cigarette butt off a balcony – it may land on combustible materials on the ground or on another balcony.
• Be extra cautious when smoking while drinking alcohol or taking medication.
• Never empty the contents of an ashtray into a garbage bin – this can cause a fire. Place a drop of water in the ashtray, then leave it to cool down fully.
• Never put out cigarettes in potted plants – fertilizer found in soil can catch fire. Make sure potted plants are watered regularly and planted in clay pots to avoid fires.
• Never smoke in bed – dozing off and setting the bed on fire is possible.
• Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches and other smoking materials out of children’s reach. 

For more safety and fire prevention tips residents can follow to help protect themselves, their families and the entire community, watch the City of Vaughan’s new fire safety video on smoking-related fires or visit vaughan.ca/fire. 

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