Fire and Rescue Service call on public to help cut down on smoking related fires

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have implored Manchester residents to make sure cigarettes are put completely out.

GMFRS recommend putting water over ashes and making sure fire alarms are working after the service fought 202 smoking related fires over the last five years.

The most recent incident was on February 18th when crews attended a fire at a high-rise in Manchester where a resident had thrown a cigarette over a balcony, only for it to land on a lower balcony and start the fire.

Bev Hughes, Deputy Mayor of Policing, Crime, Justice and Fire, said: “Our firefighters do an incredible job keeping everyone across Greater Manchester safe, at all times of day and night throughout the year.

“We can also help them to do this by making sure any smoking materials are put out completely after use.”

GMFRS have given guidance as to how best to avoid a fire if you smoke.

• Stub your smoking material out properly – put it out, put it right out
• Don’t leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around. They can easily fall over and start a fire
• Use a proper heavy wide-bottom ashtray, never a wastepaper basket
• Make sure your ashtray won’t tip over and is made of material that won’t burn
• Never smoke in bed
• Fit a minimum of one smoke alarm on every floor of your home and make sure you test it often. A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999

This comes as today is No Smoking Day, a national health awareness day in the UK which takes place every year on the second Wednesday in March. The first one was in 1984 and took place on Ash Wednesday.