CIGARETTES can burn with extreme heat - up to 920C when being inhaled. The unstable hot ash can fall in the blink of an eye and go unnoticed until something around you starts to burn - however this can be too late to avoid damage to your property, serious

CIGARETTES can burn with extreme heat - up to 920C when being inhaled.

The unstable hot ash can fall in the blink of an eye and go unnoticed until something around you starts to burn - however this can be too late to avoid damage to your property, serious injury to yourself or even death.

Things like lighters and matches are a risk too - especially if children might find them and play with them.

Always store yours in a secure location away from heat, direct sunlight and curious hands. It is a tragic fact that there have been fatal accidents as a result of small children playing with lighters.

Smokers are encouraged to not smoke in bed - the risk of falling asleep with a hot cigarette in your hand is high.

You may not realise just how many fires are caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials, but the following statistics might bring home the importance of enjoying yours safely:

• In 2005 there were 47,300 accidental fires in the home nationally, of which 2,971 were caused by smoking related items. Of these, 208 were due to lighters and matches.

• Of those 2,971 fires, 1,075 were caused by smoking materials and 359 from matches or lighters.

• One third of the people involved in smoking-related fires become a casualty.

What can smokers do to prevent a fire?

Follow these simple precautions to reduce the risks:

• Never leave a lit cigarette or pipe unattended - it may fall onto an armchair or carpet that may catch fire and start to give off dense smoke and fumes.

• Always keep matches and lighters well out of the reach of children.

• Use a safety lighter.

• Before emptying ashtrays make sure the contents are cold.

• Never smoke in bed.

• Before you go to bed make sure no cigarettes or pipes are still burning.

• Never smoke in a chair if you think you may doze off in it.

• Fit a smoke alarm that has the Kite mark and conforms to British Standard Number 5446 (Part 1). Test the smoke alarm at least once a week by pressing the test button and know the life span of the battery - mark your calendar as a reminder

To find out more about Christmas fire safety or smoke alarms, contact 01480 444666 or visit www.cambsfire.gov.uk