Smoking Materials

Smoking materials is a leading cause of outdoor fires. Reduce the risk of fire by safely storing smoking materials, taking care when smoking, and properly disposing cigarette butts after use. 

Smoking materials include, but are not limited to: 

• Cigarettes 
• Cigars 
• Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), otherwise known as vape pens 
• Drug paraphernalia 
• Lighters and matches 

Safely store smoking materials 

• Keep matches and lighters up high, away from children’s reach.  
• Ensure lighters have child-resistant safety features. 
• Teach young children that lighters and matches are not toys and not to touch them. 

Take care when smoking 

• Use deep, heavy ashtrays that do not tip over. 
• Don’t let ashtrays become so full that hot ashes might spill over the side. 
• Never smoke in bed or when drowsy, intoxicated, or medicated. A dropped cigarette can smoulder for hours before bursting into flames. 
• If there has been a party where people have been smoking and drinking, check your furniture for dropped cigarette butts. 
• Keep smoking materials a safe distance from anything combustible. 

Properly dispose of smoking materials 

• Smoking materials should be disposed of in a metal, ceramic or glass container with a lid that has water or sand at the bottom. 
• Douse smoking materials in water or sand to ensure they are safely out. 
• Never discard smoking materials in vegetation, mulch, peat moss, potted plants, leaves, grasses, or other easily combustible materials. 

Electronic cigarettes 

Although electronic cigarettes do not produce a visible flame or ember, fires have occurred while being used, charged, and transported. Never leave charging electronic cigarettes unattended and always be cautions while they are in use.