The seems to be a groundswell movement by various groups to force cigarette manufacturers to produce fire-safe cigarettes. So what are fire-safe cigarettes and is this worthy of supporting, even in Australia?
Fire-safe cigarettes have a reduced propensity to burn when left unattended. The most common fire-safe technology used by cigarette manufacturers is to wrap cigarettes with two or three thin bands of less-porous paper that act as speed bumps to slow down a burning cigarette. If a fire-safe cigarette is left unattended, the burning tobacco will reach one of these speed bumps and self-extinguish.
Fire-safe cigarettes save lives
The good news is that improved standards for cigarette-resistant materials in furniture and mattresses, and public education have all helped cut down the number of fires caused by smoking materials and have saved many lives.
Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes
The US Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes is working to save lives and prevent injuries and devastation from cigarette-ignited fires. The Coalition is calling for cigarette manufacturers to immediately produce and market only cigarettes that adhere to an established cigarette fire safety performance standard.