I just read that RJR is going to start making fire safe cigarettes. ugh Glad I roll my own! I hear that they taste B A D!!!!!
Posted on 11/11/2007 5:52:37 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
The 19 cigarette-related fires in Madison this year have killed two women and caused at least $3 million in property damage.
Now a state lawmaker wants to require that all cigarettes sold in the state extinguish automatically when not being smoked.
"It not only saves lives, but it will save property and prevent significant burns, " Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, said of the legislation she plans to introduce Monday.
If the bill is made law, Wisconsin would become the 23rd state in the country to require so-called fire-safe cigarettes, according to the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, a project of the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass.
Such laws already are in effect in five states. The laws in the other states will take effect in the coming months, including Minnesota in December, Illinois in January and Iowa in January 2009, according to the group.
"This is something that is catching on in more states, " said Karmen Hanson, health program principal with the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.
Ryan Murray, a spokesman for state Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the legislation is unnecessary.
"It 's another way of trying to save people from themselves, " Murray said.
It 's unknown how many Wisconsin fires are caused by unattended cigarettes. But a fire protection association study shows that from 2002 to 2005, smoking materials caused 13,300 home structure fires nationally, or 4 percent, and 680 fire-related deaths, or 24 percent, nationally.
In some cases, the fires were caused by unattended cigarettes; in other instances, cigarette ashes or butts ignited furniture, mattresses or trash.
Only heating equipment, with 690 deaths over the same period, caused a higher number of deaths than cigarettes, the study said.
Thicker paper
Fire-safe cigarettes are designed to extinguish themselves when a person isn 't smoking them. In the typical fire-safe cigarette, up to three bands of thicker paper encircle the tobacco to block continued burning when left unattended.
New York was the first state to enact a law to require fire-safe cigarettes, and records show a decline in cigarette-related fire deaths since it went into effect in June 2004.
There were 22 deaths blamed on cigarettes in New York in 2006 compared to 28 in 2005, according to the New York Department of State 's office. Fire death tolls in previous years include 43 in 2000, 44 in 2001 and 38 in 2002. Records for 2003 and 2004 aren 't complete.
Robson said she would expect to see a similar reduction in the number of cigarette-related fire deaths in Wisconsin if her proposal becomes law.
The bill has the support of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association and the Madison Fire Department.
Even the cigarette company Philip Morris USA said it wouldn 't oppose Robson 's bill if it is similar to the law in New York. Robson said she tried to make the bill consistent with the other laws, including the one in New York.
Robson unsuccessfully introduced similar legislation in 2005. She said she expects the bill she plans to introduce Monday will have a better shot at passing the Senate because Democrats are now the majority party, other states have passed similar bills in the last two years, and the cigarette industry isn 't opposing it. If enacted, the law would take effect about 18 months later.
Madison fires
In the Madison fires this year, two women died in separate events after they fell asleep and their lit cigarettes caused fires, according to fire department spokeswoman Lori Wirth.
In July, a cigarette caused $3 million worth of damage to a West Side apartment complex and killed several pets, she said. No one was injured. Of the 19 fires, 15 were in multifamily dwellings, she said.
In 2006, there were seven cigarette-related fires, including one that killed a woman, Wirth said.
"Clearly we have a problem, and this year seems to be the worst yet, " she said.
According to news reports cited on the fire-safe cigarette coalition 's web site, cigarettes have caused several fires around Wisconsin in recent months, including the following locations:
A Sheboygan bakery, causing up to $30,000 in damage, and a Sheboygan home, causing $20,000 in damage, in fires last month.
An assisted living facility in Grand Chute, a home 's porch in Fond Du Lac and a barbershop in Chippewa Valley in August.
A pickup truck in Monroe in July.
Madison Fire Chief Debra Amesqua is scheduled to attend Robson 's news conference Monday at Madison Fire Station No. 7 on McKenna Boulevard -- not far from the apartment complex that burned in July.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
This safety test shows the difference in burning between a regular cigarette and the so-called fire-safe cigarette. To help prevent fire deaths, a Wisconsin lawmaker wants to require that all cigarettes sold in the state extinguish automatically when not being smoked. The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, a project of the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass., backs the plan to make Wisconsin the 23rd state to approve such a law.
Ping!
I remember talk of these back in the early 80’s. Almost surprised this hasn’t been done on the national level since we are up to 23 states now. Of course the cigarettes are probably more dangerous to the smoker.
So, he's given up cigars, then?
When are they going to outlaw kids playing with matches?
“Almost surprised this hasn’t been done on the national level since we are up to 23 states now.”
Sneaky, control the proletariat, Nanny State schemes work much, much better when implemented incrementally. ;)
(Pot. Water. Frog. Slow simmer to boil.)
They’ll prevent global warming too......and save children and cute lil kittens and puppies.
I don’t know why we don’t label tobacco for the poison that is really is and be done with it.
Next they will be requiring asbestos dust to be mixed in with the tobacco.
Nanny State Ping.
An interesting statistic they fail to mention here is that most cases of cigarette/smoking material caused fires are in most part caused by intoxication of one sort or another.
Of course they omit that particular datum because it would defeat their purpose of further demonizing smokers, wouldn’t it?
How do we KNOW they were all "cigarette related " fires and not joint-related?
If someone passes out and starts a fire with a joint, of course they'll say they were smoking cigarettes.
And which of the two is it more likely to happen with?
Gee if cigarettes are killing people in fires not to mention second hand smoke killing infants in their beds why don’t the good legislators of Wisconsin just ban the sale, importation and smoking of cigarettes? Wouldn’t that solve all their problems? But wait if they did that they would lose a huge amount of cigarettes tax revenue and might have to start taxing people not so stigmatized by society who might just vote them out of office.
You are, of course, absolutely correct.
Some years ago I had a confrontation with the local fire marshall over just that issue. A fire several doors down from me was caused by carelessness with illicit drugs, I do believe they were cooking crack, as did the fire marshall, but because of the ongoing criminal investigation that tidbit could not be put into the initial press release. I did at least get a consession made and the word cigarette was omitted from the release, however the news stories still left the impression the fire was caused by careless cigarette smoking.
When all was said and done and the perps finally arrested, the true cause of the fire was buried in the local rags.
ROTFLOL as coffee spews everywhere!
EXACTLY!
We need to put our feet down now, on this and many other issues and stop this constant picking at our freedom.
But of course! Wouldn't want the sheeple to think something else may cause all our problems. It's cigarettes, dam_ it, and only cigs!
I just read that RJR is going to start making fire safe cigarettes. ugh Glad I roll my own! I hear that they taste B A D!!!!!
Ah yes, a modern day prohibition, along with the organized crime to support it. Arresting grannies buying from Uncle Fred. Neighbors arrested for rolling their own. The police state pushed into high gear. Would certainly make for interesting times.
I believe "American Spirit" cigarettes do just that. They are not treated and go out if not puffed.
I screamed bloody murder about it, to no avail. Thank goodness for the online forums of the local rags, at least I got the proper info out because my letters to the editors were not printed.
My homemades also are not treated and go out when left in the ashtray, just like a cigar.
When I first started making my own I learned that I did not smoke 2+ packs a day, rather I smoked less than a pack, I just burned up the rest :)
Of course not...no one wants to hear the truth.
Thank you again for all that you do for the cause!
poison??????? LOL
Surely you gest............
Which states are these? I assume there have been no cigarette-related fires reported in them since taking up the requirement.
I thought that would be the case and meant to ping you to that post.
BTW, how did your crop turn out this year?
Exactly!
We didn’t put in any tobacco, which was a good thing, most crops here on the Shore were destroyed by the drought
Here’s one state, Virginia’s breakdown of cause of residential fires:
http://www.vafire.com/fire_data_statistics/2006%20Residential%20Structure%20Fire%20Causes.pdf
Heating and Cooking causes way more fires than Cigarettes.
So, put a sweater on and eat straight out of the can.
That’s where we will head next, and it’s sooooo good for Global Warming.
Harvard findings on fire safe cigarettes:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20050627/ai_n15833914
~snip~
The Harvard report on fire-safe cigarettes shows in complex tables that levels of carbon monoxide — related to heart disease — and naphthalene — linked to cancer — are boosted the most when manufacturers use special, banded paper that slows burning, which is helpful when a cigarette is left unattended.
Carbon monoxide is boosted by 11.4 percent and naphthalene by 13.9 percent. Other carcinogens, such as fluorine, are increased by about 6 percent.
Yummy/s
I don't know how long we've had these 'fire-safe' cigarettes here in CA but I can't really detect any difference in the taste. My home-made smokes do taste a lot better though. :=)
You got THAT right!
Can't stand the high taxes?
Afraid to order off of the Internet?
Then start rolling your own!!! I find everything but the machine downtown at the local Smoke Shop. Also, Rite Aid and grocery stores also sell the bags of tobacco and the filtered tubes.
I roll out a beautiful carton for a little under $8 dollars. Premiums in my state are now up to $45-$50 a carton. Can you imagine the money I have saved over the past 4 years since I now roll my own? It's mind boggling.
under $50.00
Check StuffYourOwn for prices on tobacco
$1.99 for 200 filtered tubes
Make your own cigarettes for as low as $6.99 per Carton! Smoke Quality FILTERED cigarettes that you make yourself using cigarette tubes (like a cigarette without the Cigarette tobacco), our cigarette making machines, and our "roll your own" cigarette tobacco.
-Stop Paying High Cigarette Taxes
-So Much Easier than "Roll Your Own" cigarettes!
and
Most of the New England states have these self-extinguishing ciggarette laws. Now if you don't want to constantly relight your smoke you constantly puff on the sucker as opposed to a leisurely style. This means smokers are doing more damage to their lungs/body on average. Liberalism and their answers never part.
The stats they never show you..........
2.11% = major cause of fires, according to the antis. I don’t think so.
Thanks for the link!
Bell’s gone.............he either lost in the June primary or didn’t seek re-election last week.
Oh ye of little faith...
I am sure they could find another group to villify, demonize, tax pi$$less, and eventually outlaw.
It's what they do.
Come On ,Already!!!!!Is this the purpose of government?Where does it say this in The United States Constitution??
That’s funny. The answer, it would seem to me, would be to always have an open flame nearby while smoking. A candle for instance. Or mabe an oil lamp of some kind.
Now there are two fire hazards. The candle and the ciggarette.
I just thought of an invention. “The eternal flame ciggarette ashtray”. The center of the ashtray is raised and there is an oil lamp underneath with the wick protruding up through. Now when a ciggarette is left too long on the ashtray and goes out, you simply pick it up and put the end in the flame, then put it back in your mouth and puff.
SheLion, thanks for posting the RYO info, it reminded me to buy a Topomatic, I just don’t have any luck with the Supermatics, the one I’m using now is starting to go...
Ordered some more tubes too - the ones that aren’t chemically treated ;)
Do you know Doug? He hasn’t updated his site for a while - just wondering.
A much better smoke, quite a bit cheaper and, since I roll mine one-by-one, I actually smoke less than I used to with store-bought cigarettes. It’s a win, win, win for me.
Good Riddance!!
I agree. And yes, he was defeated in the primary.
Unfotunately my state Senator lost his seat last week and has now been replaced by a pediatrician.
Don't look for premiums or coupons, as the cost of the tobaccos blended in CAMEL cigarettes prohibits the use of them.
I'd walk a mile for a Camel!
(and if the mess with my Zippo they better watch out!)
"The initial version of the filter in Kent cigarettes used crocidolite asbestos as the filtering agent ...
An epidemic of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma has occurred among workers at the factory where the filters for the original Kent cigarette were made.
In all, an estimated 11.7 billion cigarettes (585 million packs) were sold in the United States using this design with advertising that emphasized the "health protection" supposedly provided by the filter."
Our friendly tobacco companies have been screwing people up (and over) for a long time.
Thanks for the ping!
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