EVERETT — Fireworks, make way for cigarettes.
The seasonal fire concern is changing with the calendar.
Once summer kicks in, firefighters start seeing more fires, particularly outdoors, started by stubborn cigarette butts, said Leslie Hynes, a spokeswoman for Snohomish County Fire District 1.
Now that it’s getting drier, it’s more important to make sure cigarette butts are properly extinguished, she said.
The big issue this time of year is when people put out cigarettes in potted plants or planter boxes on their decks, Hynes said.
“That provides the perfect insulation for the cigarette to smolder and then catch fire and then ignite the deck and the siding,” Hynes said.
In the last decade, Everett firefighters had two fatal fires that were cigarette-related, Fire Marshal Rick Robinson said. Both also involved alcohol or other intoxicants.
Smoking-related blazes are one of the most fatal kinds of house fires, Marysville Fire Marshal Tom Maloney said. They kill roughly 1,000 people every year — smokers and nonsmokers.
Marysville firefighters see cigarette butts start fires in planter boxes every year, he said.
People think it’s just dirt in the boxes, but peat moss and other materials can ignite or insulate a flame, Hynes said. Cigarette butts can smolder for hours before catching fire.
Once the deck or siding catches, the fire usually spreads up the side of the house. It might break a window to get in, but the flames usually climb into the eaves and then the attic.
Another concern is people who are smoking while drunk, drugged or drowsy, Hynes said. They’re at risk because they might not notice if a fire breaks out until it’s too late.
The easiest safety step to avoid cigarette fires is to use a sturdy ashtray or a can filled with sand, she said. When emptying the ashtray, soak the butts in water. Crews see trash can fires every year from discarded ashtray debris. One such fire proved fatal in Edmonds this past year.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
Fire safety tips for smokers
•Smokers should smoke outside and use ashtrays with a wide, stable base that won’t tip over.
Always make sure cigarettes and ashes are out.
Never toss hot cigarette butts or ashes into the trash.
Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before throwing them away.
Chairs and sofas burn fast. Never put ashtrays on them, and check for cigarettes under cushions if people have been smoking in your home.
If you are drowsy or falling asleep, put it out. Smoking in bed is dangerous.
Source: Marysville Fire Marshal Tom Maloney
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