Don't let cigarettes be a fire hazard too
SMOKING not only damages your health and hits your wallet, but it can also put your home and family at risk, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is warning.
Smoking causes fires in homes across the county each year and the fire service is providing simple advice to help those who cannot quit to
at least smoke safely.
A spokesman said: "Between April last year and February, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service attended 60 house fires attributed to smoking and smoking related materials. These fires put lives at risk, especially when more than 30 per cent of all houses that have a fire don't
have a working smoke alarm.
"One cigarette could be all it takes to start a fire in your home which could put you and your family in serious danger. Or one cigarette could cost you thousands of pounds worth of damage to your home and destroy your possessions."
The warning comes following National No Smoking Day, held on Wednesday,
which sees an estimated 1 million people give up on the day each year.
Smokers are being given the following advice:
Always make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished
Do not smoke when you are feeling sleepy, drunk or likely to pass out for any other reason
Never smoke in bed
Use a proper ashtray
Do not leave a cigarette burning in an ashtray where it can fall out or be knocked out
Make doubly sure all cigarettes are out before you go to bed, wet the butts, tip the ashtray into a metal bin, and put it outside
Keep matches and lighters out of reach of small children.
The fire service offers free home fire risk checks. To book a visit, free phone 0800 9178137 or email homesafety@fire.norfolk.gov.uk.
Click on www.norfolkfireservice.gov.uk for more information.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
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