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More States Mandate Fire-Safe Cigarettes

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The Associated Press

Published: January 3, 2009

FORT WORTH, Texas - Laws mandating stores sell only cigarettes that are slow-burning and fire-safe went into effect in five states on New Year's Day, and Florida will join the list next year.

Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas on Thursday joined 17 other states in mandating the fire-safe cigarettes. Fifteen other states have laws that will take effect this year or next, according to the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes.

The paper on these "fire-safe" cigarettes is thicker in two spots so they will go out if not puffed when they burn to these areas. The idea is to prevent fires caused when cigarettes are left unattended.

About 800 Americans die each year in fires caused by careless smoking.

In Florida, legislation requiring the manufacture and sale of only fire-safe cigarettes beginning Jan. 1, 2010, passed the House and Senate in April, the coalition said. Gov. Charlie Crist signed it into law June 10.

Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Colorado, Arizona, Washington, Louisiana, Hawaii and Wisconsin have laws that take effect this year, according to the coalition's Web site. Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and South Carolina have laws that will take effect in 2010.

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