Do Cigarettes Cause House Fires [You'll Be Surprised]

Published on May 16th, 2023

Cigarettes have been proven to cause house fires. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that cigarette butts are the number one cause of fires in the home. They are also responsible for many fires outside the home, including car fires and boat accidents. In many family households, this poses a significant risk, especially in areas filled with furniture, such as the living room and bedroom, where items like curtains and rugs are present. Adults of any age should be especially cautious, as the response time for the fire department can vary, making early prevention essential.

In some cases, cigarettes can cause fires by igniting other combustible materials like paper or furniture, causing a chain reaction. Smoking near flammable objects, such as curtains, rugs, or even by a window or door, can also start a fire if they catch fire from the heat generated by burning tobacco. Leaving a lit cigarette on a pot or tray can also lead to fires, particularly if it's near a couch, pillow, or blanket. One disclaimer is that e-cigarettes might provide an alternative with fewer risks of explosions or fires, although further research is necessary.

Suppose you find yourself with a cigarette butt on your skin. In that case, you should wash it off immediately with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer to prevent a severe infection from developing. Furthermore, be cautious about smoking near windows or doors, as it allows the smoke to travel and potentially spread fire. It's essential to have easy access to extinguishing materials such as sand or water in case a fire does break out, and to ensure ashtrays, carpets, and trash are kept away from potential fire sources to prevent accidents.

How Do Cigarettes Cause Home Fires

Cigarette smoke causes fires in many ways. It can start a fire when it comes in contact with heat sources such as hot exhaust pipes, light bulbs, and flames. Cigarette butts also contain chemicals that can cause a blaze if they're not correctly disposed of. To prevent fires, consider using a tray or ash container for safe disposal, and always keep a lighter away from combustible materials. Also, be mindful of the content of cigarette butts and their potential to cause harm.

The smoke that comes from a cigarette is full of toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide and tar, which are very flammable. If you light a cigarette on fire, the toxic smoke will burn your skin before it burns anything else. Additionally, smoking cigars inside can create a hazardous environment and should be avoided. The experience of a cigarette fire can be devastating and life-threatening for everyone involved.

Cigarette butts are made from tobacco leaves and other ingredients that may include glue or resins used for manufacturing cigarettes. When these materials come in contact with combustible materials like paper or wood, they can catch fire easily. As a result, it's crucial to keep cigarettes away from carpets and rugs, as well as fire-prone items like curtains.

In addition to starting fires on their own, cigarette butts also contain dangerous substances such as lead and arsenic — known carcinogens that can cause health problems over time. Cigarettes also contain chemicals like ammonia that can be inhaled during smoking and can cause lung disease over time.

According to the National Foundation for American Policy report:

Home fires are caused by smoking materials one out of twenty times, causing almost one out of four deaths (23%) and one out of ten injuries (10%). Over the five years of 2012-2016, smoking material fires accounted for 31 of the 31 deaths caused by home fires. Smoker residents should be aware of the danger they may pose to their family, especially children.

Home smoking fires were most often started on an open porch or balcony (18%) from 2012-2016. The living room accounted for four-thirds of the fatal fires. The bedroom accounted for one-third of deadly fires (34%). As ashes fall from lit cigarettes, they can easily start a fire if they come into contact with flammable materials. In many cases, children playing with matches or lighters are also responsible for igniting fires, which poses a significant risk to kids and residents.

A total of 18,100 (5%) home structure fires were reported annually between 2012-2016, resulting in 590 home fire deaths (23%) and 1,130 home fire injuries (10%), resulting in a total of $476 million in direct property damage (7%) each year.

Smoking materials cause one out of every 20 home structure fires (5%) and almost one out of every four (23%) home smoking-related fire deaths.

If you're smoking in bed, the consequences can be severe. Cigarette smoke is considered the most dangerous substance a person can inhale.

The burning cigarette leaves tar and nicotine residue on your sheets or pillowcase, which could ignite if they get too close to flammable materials such as curtains or drapes. It would help if you also were careful when smoking around candles, as an ember may easily ignite the candle's flame and start a fire.

Smoking in bed is hazardous to your health and your house. Smokers tend to leave lit cigarettes unattended on tables or nightstands, where they might accidentally fall onto bedding or bedclothes. Many smokers also fail to extinguish their cigarettes properly before going back into their bedrooms at night, so there's always a chance that they'll set fire to their homes while sleeping!

It is estimated that cigarette lights cause 100,000 U.S. and one million global child-playing fires per year due to smoking. Cigarettes cause numerous fire disasters. Cigarette lights are responsible for multiple fire disasters in many more countries.

To prevent cigarette fires in the home, follow these simple steps: 

• Never smoke in bed. Don't fall asleep with your cigarette still burning when you're tired. It's easy to set furniture ablaze when you're tired. Neither drugs nor alcohol should be consumed while smoking. Having a lit cigarette could reduce your chances of escaping a fire. 

• Don't let your cigarette fire burn! Put it out right away. Leaving lit cigarettes unattended can easily cause them to overbalance. Use a heavy, non-burning ashtray that won't tip over easily and can't tip over easily.

• To make it safer, smoke outdoors, but be sure to throw out and dispose of cigarettes properly. Use non-flammable alternatives to paraffin-based emollient creams if you use medical oxygen or a pressure relief mattress. 



• People turn to vaping to quit smoking, but vaping has its fire safety risks - counterfeit or faulty products and poor charging habits are usually the problems. The smoke alarms should be installed and tested monthly. If a smoke alarm works, you will have time to get out, stay out, and call the emergency services. 
  

Other Things That Cause Fires

• Fans
• Dryers
• Plugin Air Fresheners
• Mice
• Toasters
• Christmas Lights
• Furnaces

• Squirrels
• Smart Meters
• Space Heaters
• Crock Pots
• Lightning
• Fireworks
• Gas Fireplaces

• Electric Blankets
• Solar Panels
• Cigarettes'
• Batteries
• LED Lights
• Candles