The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) as part of a joint partnership recently released a report on the Behavioral Mitigation of Smoking Fires. The purpose of the report is to develop recommendations for behavioral mitigation strategies to reduce smoking fire fatalities in the Continental United States (CONUS).

“Smoking continues to be the number one cause of residential fire deaths, which justifies a new look at research about the role of behaviors in causing those deaths,” says Charlie Dickinson, acting USFA administrator. The aim of the partnership, according to Dickenson, is to reduce smoking fire deaths.

According to the report, the percentage of smoking-material fatalities where the victim is intimate with ignition is three times the percentage for fires due to other causes. What this means is that smoking-material fire victims are less likely to be saved after ignition takes place than those who experience other types of fires.

“NFPA is leading the charge to reduce cigarette-ignited fires through its Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes,” said James Shannon, NFPA President and CEO. “NFPA was proud to partner with USFA in this effort to not only reinforce the work of the coalition but to identify additional ways to minimize loss of life and property from cigarette fires. It is clear from the report we must continue to educate smokers and their families and friends about the strategies that will have the greatest impact on this tragic ongoing loss of life.”

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