London fire deaths ‘could fall’ after new cigarette rules

The London Fire Brigade has welcomed new legislation requiring all cigarettes sold in the European Union to have bands down the length of the paper which will make the cigarette go out if not inhaled by the smoker.

The Brigade, which campaigned for the new law, says the new standard could see the number of people killed and injured in cigarette related fires “dramatically reduced”.

The Brigade is called to around 800 smoking related fires every year and
says a third of all fatalities in accidental house fires within London are caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials.

Chairman of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority’s Community Safety Committee Cllr Susan Hall said: “We have campaigned long and hard for this legislation to be introduced and now it has, it will undoubtedly save lives.

“Cigarettes and other smoking materials are the biggest killer when it comes to accidental house fires, with 78 Londoners losing their lives over the last five years. Fire safer cigarettes are good news for London Fire Brigade and good news for the safety of Londoners.”