Fire Safety Cigarettes
Cigarettes are the top cause of fatal residential fires in the nation. Cigarette fires kill approximately 800 people annually. One-quarter of victims of smoking-material fire fatalities are not the smokers whose cigarettes started the fire: 34 percent are children of the smokers; 25 percent are neighbors or friends; 14 percent are spouses or partners; and 13 percent are parents.
Many people assume that cigarette fires result from carelessness, such as improper disposal of cigarette butts or intoxicated smokers falling asleep. Technology has existed for decades to make cigarettes safer and less likely to cause fires.
Traditional technology keeps a cigarette burning even without puffing. This is accomplished by including a significant amount of citrate-burning agents. Within 10 minutes, 90 percent to 100 percent of traditional cigarettes will cause fires in ignition tests — and a cigarette can smolder for up to 45 minutes.
These cigarettes are not new. Patents for self-extinguishing cigarettes were granted 70 years ago. Attempts to introduce legislation for fire safety cigarettes have not been successful, however, Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 28 established the “Reduced Propensity Standards for Cigarettes” sometimes referred to as the “Fire Safe Cigarette Act” in 2008.
In order to reduce the number of fires and fire related deaths and injuries due to cigarettes, the fire safety cigarettes place two bands on the cigarette paper that are less porous than the surrounding paper. These bands require smokers to inhale at these bands to increase oxygen and increase the temperature of the burning cigarette paper enough to burn through the bands.
In 2005, Indiana statistics on "Residential Structure Fires Causes" through the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) show that 124 reported smoking related fires occurred. These fires caused two civilian deaths, sixteen civilian injuries, and five firefighter injuries with property loss at nearly $1.5 million.
- Beginning July 1, 2009, to sell cigarettes in the State of Indiana, you must be a cigarette manufacturer registered with the State of Indiana Attorney General and have a certification approved by the Indiana State Fire Marshal.
- Indiana Code 22-14-7
- Detailed instructions on how to apply for the certification
- Approved Cigarette Brand Family List
- If you are ready to begin online application, please have the following information ready:
- Contact phone number and e-mail information
- Cigarette style, size (length and circumference in mm), package, filter and flavor information.
- Credit card information if paying by credit card: You will have to pay instant access and credit card fees besides the normal fees to use this service.
Other important information when filing the project:
- Keep all the information at hand when filing. If you walk away from the computer for an extended period (over 30 minutes) the application may time out. If the web application times you out you will have to retype all the information.
- If you have questions regarding cigarette certification, please contact IDHS.
- If you have questions regarding addition of a new manufacturer or a new brand please contact IDHS.
- If paying by check, there will be no additional fees. However, check must be drafted on a United States-based bank.
If you experience technical difficulties using the application, contact dfbsdatabase@dhs.in.gov for assistance.