Seattle Fire Department: Smoking And Rooftop Fires

Seattle WA

21 July, 2021

11:07 AM

Description

Press release from the Seattle Fire Department : William Mace July 21, 2021 Make sure proper cigarette disposal canisters are available in areas where smoking is allowed Over the weekend, the Seattle Fire Department responded to two residential home fires that started on rooftops. In both situations, fire investigators identified improperly discarded smoking materials as the probable source of ignition. Every summer, we respond to fires that are caused by smoking materials left unattended or discarded improperly. With the warm and dry weather, more such fires may likely occur. Even though smoking is not allowed on multi-residential building rooftops, fire Investigators frequently find cigarette butts in planter boxes and in garbage cans. It is important to never discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves or other things that could ignite easily. A small cigarette butt in dry conditions can turn into a major fire. Steps to help reduce the chance of such fires include the following: Discard smoking materials in designated canisters only This press release was produced by the Seattle Fire Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.