| News Release |
| Release Date: |
03/26/2010 |
Release Time: |
12:55 PM |
| Contact: |
Fernando Herrera
Fire Captain
951-940-6985
|
Subject: |
Smoking cause of Anza Fatality Fire |
Full Text:
Thursday March 25, 2010 at approximately 6:07 PM, CAL FIRE and Riverside County Fire responded to a residential structure fire on Ramsey Road in the Community of Anza. The first arriving fire engine reported a singlewide mobile home well involved in fire. Firefighters discovered the body of a 52-year-old female in the living room area of the mobile home.
Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was an improperly discarded cigarette. According to US Fire Administration, smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths in the United States. This was the second fire in a single day in Riverside County that was caused by smoking. The first fire, which occurred in Palm Desert, resulted in serious damage to the home, fortunately there were no injuries.
Fire caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials are preventable. If you smoke or live with someone who smokes, learn the facts and practice fire safety measures. One-four people killed in home fires is not the smoker whose cigarette caused the fire.
Safety tips
If you smoke, smoke outside.
Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table.
Before you throw out butts and ashes, make sure they are out, and dousing in water or sand is the best way to do that.
Check under furniture cushions and in other places people smoke for cigarette butts that may have fallen out of sight.
Never smoke in a home where oxygen is being used.
If you smoke, choose fire safe cigarettes. They are less likely to cause fires.
To prevent a deadly cigarette fire, you have to be alert. You won' be if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine or other drugs.
Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children's sight and reach
For more information about fire safety, visit www.rvcfire.org
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