A careless cigarette butt could start a fire

WITH temperatures spiking across the state in recent days, Quit Victoria and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) are urging Victorian smokers to be cautious when disposing of cigarette butts to help reduce the risk of fires.

The warning comes after a cigarette sparked a fire that caused substantial damage to a property in Albion just after Christmas.

Fortunately, none of the five residents who were home at the time sustained injuries, and MFB firefighters were able to stop the blaze from spreading to the neighbouring properties.

Quit Victoria director Dr Sarah White urged smokers to realise that the possible impact of smoking extended beyond health.

“The impact of fires started by cigarette butts can range from small fires in bins, through to devastating bushfires,” she said.

“The latest estimates show smoking-related fires cost the Victorian economy around $28.6 million per year. And when you add the cost of smokingrelated litter, reduced workplace productivity and healthcare too, these costs add up to a staggering $3.69 billion in tangible costs to the Victorian economy every year.

“There’s a simple way to reduce the costs of fires caused by cigarettes – encourage and support your friends, family and work colleagues to quit.”

MFB chief officer Dan Stephens said that firefighters respond to more than 10 fires caused by cigarettes every month on average across the Melbourne metropolitan district alone.

“It’s vital that people living in the city have fire risk front-of-mind on hot days.

“Careless disposal of smoking materials can quickly start a fire, especially in a high risk area like on a balcony, in a street bin or near grass and parklands.

“On a hot or windy day, these fires have the potential to spread quickly and cause substantial damage to property and can put lives in danger.

“If you’re a smoker please fully extinguish smoking materials and dispose of them in heavy, high-sided ashtrays to avoid starting a fire.”

For quitting advice, head to quit.org.au or phone the Quitline on 13 78 48.