Smoking can Provoke Fires

Researchers said that only smoking ban can reduce fire risk of cigarettes. Even smokers will need to continue to dispose of their cigarettes and ash carefully.

The "reduced fire risk" cigarettes are common in Europe and the United States, where they are mandatory in 36 states, but not in Australia.

Tobacco manufacturers in Australia will only be able to sell self-extinguishing cigarettes within two years.
Cigarette manufacturers from Australia will have to remove burn additives which keep cigarettes alight.

A report released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in June estimated the new cigarettes would result in savings in property damage across Australia exceeding $100 million a year.

New South Wales (NSW) Fire Brigades has been lobbying at state and federal levels for new regulations.

It commissioned a report, which found that fires started by cigarettes were responsible for 67 deaths across Australia between 2000 and 2006.

Greg Mullins, NSW Fire Brigade commissioner, said: "We think that's a very conservative figure. Often when there's a fire, there's no evidence left to be able to state the cause beyond reasonable doubt and with many fires, we're sure that they were started by cigarettes but haven't been able to prove it."

Mr. Mullins said studies on the introduction of reduced fire risk cigarettes in New York State found a 40 percent reduction in the number of fire deaths.

He added: "In a country like ours, the impact could even be greater with our already high bushfire risk. At least 7 percent of bushfires are started by discarded cigarettes."

Researchers consider that reduced fire risk cigarettes will be just that - reduced fire risk not more. Smokers will need only to continue to dispose of their cigarettes and ash carefully.