MORE people in Dorset die in fires at home caused by cigarettes and smoking products than any other cause, according to officials.

In the last five years, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has seen 11 deaths caused by accidental fires in the home resulting from smokers’ materials, which was half of all fire fatalities across the service area.

As part of the national Fire Kills campaign, the service is reminding smokers to ‘Put it Out, Right Out’ whenever they light up and have outlined several steps to prevent such dangers.

  • Never smoke in bed – it’s easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning
  • Never smoke when under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Make sure your cigarette or cigar is fully extinguished once finished
  • Fit a smoke alarm and test it monthly
  • Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended – they can overbalance as they burn
  • Use a heavy ashtray that can’t tip over and is made of a material that won’t burn. Place it on a level surface rather than on the arm of a chair or sofa
  • Make an attempt to quit, using NHS support if you need it. If you don’t want to quit, consider vaping

Dorset’s safe and well manager Vikki Thomas said: “Every smoker should be aware of the risks they take every time they light up indoors, especially in bed or under the influence of alcohol. The risk of falling asleep before you ‘put it out, right out’ is just too great.

“Most importantly, whether you smoke or not, make sure you have smoke alarms fitted and test them regularly.”

Visit dwfire.org.uk/smoking-and-e-cigarettes for more information.