LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — The Kingston Fire Department responds to thousands of calls every year.
Chief Frank Guido says his department sees its fair share of incidents where cigarettes are to blame for a fire, “It takes a few seconds to put them out properly, and I cannot say that enough. If you put them out properly, you are not going to have a problem.”
Last month, accidental careless smoking was determined as the cause of a fire at B'nai B'rith senior apartments on East Northampton Street in Wilkes-Barre that fire sent more than a dozen people to hospital.
Earlier this week in Northumberland County, a fire claimed the lives of two people at a home on John's Way in Point Township.
A state police fire marshal said it started by discarded smoking materials and was ruled accidental.
“Fire spreads rapidly once it gets going,” said Chief Guido.
Fire experts say there are plenty of steps smokers can take to prevent a house fire, like taking that smoke break outside.
“Don't just throw it in the garbage, wet it down, let it sit in a deep bucket, let it cool down put it outside, just be careful,” explained Chief Guido.
The U.S. Fire Administration says house fires caused by smoking accounted for more than $361 million in damage in 2021.
Fire officials say the damage left behind by a cigarette can vary, but it could cost more than just the items inside your home, “It could be catastrophic, and it could cost lives. If people put a cigarette out carelessly and go to bed and they don't have smoke alarms in their house, they could die and do substantial damage to the house. If it is caught early we can get at it quick, it might do minimal damage,” said Chief Guido.
Fire experts say, smoker or non-smoker, it's always a good time to make sure your smoke alarms are in working order.