Fire safe cigarette mandate on July 1

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Fires caused by cigarettes kill about 800 Americans each year.  On July 1st, cigarettes sold in Indiana will have to be fire safe cigarettes, which are less likely to burn when left unattended.  Lafayette fire inspector David Thomas is glad to see the change.

"We applaud any efforts to reduce home fires.  Mattresses and home furnishings are less likely to ignite now with some fire retardancy properties and with smoking being the top causes of home fires it is certainly going to help that," said Thomas.

Fire safe cigarettes are made from the same blend of tobacco, but have two bands on the cigarette paper which are less porous than the surrounding paper.  Smokers have to inhale at the bands to increase oxygen and raise the temperature enough to burn through.

"They meet a standard and they have a less likely to ignite a fire if left unattended. But we would like to stress that no cigarette is actually totally fire safe so caution still needs to be taken and care not to leave smoking materials unattended," Thomas said.

He said people should not smoke in bed or leave cigarettes unattended. Also, keep cigarettes out of children's reach, and be sure to have working smoke alarms in your home.