SASKATOON — The fire risk of smoking materials is the burning issue that the Saskatoon Fire Department wants to take on as winter weather is slowly taking a back seat.
The SFD, in recent weeks, has seen a noticeable increase in fires caused by the improper or inadequate disposal and storage of combustible and smoking materials.
The trend is of immediate concern to the SFD and they are reminding residents to safely store smoking materials up high and to be kept away from children’s reach.
People who smoke must also use a deep and heavy ashtray that does not tip over to hold ashes and cigarette butts. They then need to dispose of smoking materials in a metal, ceramic or glass container with a lid that has water or sand at the bottom.
Smoking materials be kept at a safe distance from anything that is combustible like dry leaves, paper or any flammable liquid. Never discard smoking materials in vegetation, mulch, peat moss, potted plants, leaves, grasses or other easily combustible materials, officials say.
They recommend dousing smoking materials, like cigarette ashes and butts, in water or sand to ensure they are safely out. Other smoking materials include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vape pens), drug paraphernalia, lighters and matches.
The SFD said that a dropped or improperly disposed of cigarette can smoulder for hours before bursting into flames or can ignite sooner in windy conditions.
For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/smokingmaterials.
