Following several interventions in the area, the Fire Safety Department of the City of Thetford Mines wishes to raise awareness and inform citizens about the risks associated with smoking articles.
The fire dangers associated with smoking materials are often unknown or trivialized. Moreover, fires that start in dry brush or in cedar mulch along a road or trail are often the direct result of a cigarette butt thrown on the ground. Indeed, the contact of smoking articles with combustible materials (paper, cardboard, fabric, plastic, wood mulch, etc.) can initiate incandescent combustion, also called a smoldering fire. This slow combustion does not produce flames immediately and generates very little smoke; a slight supply of air will be necessary to create flames which can then spread.
“We had to intervene on a major fire recently which was caused by a cigarette butt left in a flower pot. This gesture seems trivial and many would not suspect the dangerousness of organic compounds, but the mixture of potting soil, compost and organic matter is very flammable. We would therefore like to remind you of the preventive measures concerning smoking articles in order to considerably reduce financial, material and above all human losses in the event of an incident,” says Jean-Guy Frappier, head of the Operations Division of the Security Service. fire.
INVESTIGATE TO BETTER PREVENT
When there is a fire, research into the causes and circumstances of a fire investigates to find out the most likely cause. With the data collected, preventionists are able to produce well-targeted awareness campaigns among the population. Several statistics show that prevention not only helps avoid many accidents, but also saves many lives.
PREVENTION INSTRUCTIONS
It is essential to always extinguish your cigarette butt by wetting it or crushing it. Likewise, it is recommended to dispose of it in a container provided for this purpose and never throw it on the ground, in a bin or flowerpot. When walking in nature, the cigarette butt should be extinguished with a water Source. To preserve the environment, people are also invited to bring it back and throw it at home instead of leaving it on the ground.
Vaping devices also pose some fire risks if not used properly. It is recommended to store an electronic cigarette in its protective case in order to avoid friction which could create sparks and to only use accessories provided by the manufacturer (charger, USB cable, etc.).
