Smoking and e-cigarette safety tips
Smoking materials – cigarettes, lighters, matches, and even e-cigarettes – are a leading cause of house fires in the UK. Most smoking-related fires start when someone falls asleep or disposes of a cigarette carelessly. Staying alert and following a few simple steps can save lives.
Smoking safely at home
- Never smoke in bed - falling asleep with a lit cigarette is a major fire risk.
- Use proper ashtrays - not plant pots, bins, or cups.
- Empty ashtrays only when contents are cold - and use water to fully extinguish them.
- Keep smoking materials away from soft furnishings like sofas, cushions and bedding.
- Don’t smoke if you're drowsy, drinking, or taking medication that makes you sleepy.
- Avoid smoking near medical oxygen – it’s extremely flammable.
Safer alternatives
- Consider quitting smoking for both health and fire safety reasons.
- Visit: www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking
- Support is free, local, and effective.
E-cigarettes and vapes
While vapes remove the fire risk from lit cigarettes, they still pose electrical hazards, especially during charging. To use vapes and e-cigarettes safely:
- Only use the charger that came with the device - mismatched chargers can overheat batteries.
- Don’t leave devices charging unattended or overnight.
- Keep away from soft furnishings and never charge on a bed or sofa.
- Avoid overcharging - unplug once fully charged.
- Replace damaged batteries immediately and never use if the device shows signs of swelling or overheating.
- Store vapes out of direct sunlight or heat.
Stay protected
- Keep a working smoke alarm on every level of your home, and install a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fuel-burning appliance, such as a boiler, wood burner, or open fire.
- Test your alarms regularly.
- Have an escape plan and make sure everyone in the household knows it.
- If a fire does start, get out, stay out, and call 999.
- For more information visit Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service's safety at home section, or Fire Kills