How Smokers Can Reduce the Risk of a Home Fire

There is a good reason why homeowners insurance premiums can be higher for smokers. The odds of a house fire increase when an occupant is a smoker. Many of the materials in a modern home are highly flammable and a smoker frequently carries a hot ignition source on his person. Even the most careful smoker can make a mistake and just one mistake is all it takes to burn a home down.

Property loss isn't the only risk. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the leading cause of home fire fatalities is smoking. Many who have experienced such a tragedy, never thought it could happen to them. These types of fires affect the smoker, his family and possibly his neighbors. If you are a smoker and wish to mitigate the risk of a smoking-related home fire, follow these safety tips.

Never Smoke When Feeling Drowsy

If you are feeling exhausted or sleepy, sitting down on a chair or lying on a bed will induce sleep. Sitting or lying down for a few minutes while you smoke could mean falling asleep with a lit cigarette in your hand.

Smoke Outside Your Home

The best place to smoke is outside of your home. This not only spares your house of the risk of catching on fire, but it also protects your family from the health risks of breathing in secondhand smoke.

Use the Proper Ashtrays

Ashtrays should be deep with a wide and stable base. Ashtrays often have notches for setting your cigarette down. An ashtray that wobbles can cause a lit cigarette to fall to the floor. Make sure that the ashtray is on a sturdy table with no flammable materials nearby.

Properly Put out Your Cigarette

Never leave a burning cigarette in the ashtray. A child or a pet could knock the ashtray over. Make sure the cigarette is completely stubbed out.

Properly Throw out Cigarette Butts and Ashes

Before throwing out butts and ashes, soak them in water first.

Install Smoke Alarms

Place a smoke alarm on every level of your house. Check them periodically and replace batteries as needed.

Never Smoke if Oxygen is in Use

Don't smoke when you or someone else is using oxygen. Smoking should be avoided even when the oxygen is turned off. Oxygen supports combustion and causes fires to burn faster and hotter. Even things that don't normally burn can be made to do so with oxygen.

The best fire prevention method you can use is to quit smoking. It is the only way you can ensure with 100 percent certainty that you will never cause a smoking-induced home fire. In addition to the health benefits, you can also save money on your homeowners insurance premiums.