The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon Fire Chief Jim Petrie backs a new plan to make all cigarettes sold in Canada self extinguish when left unattended. Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh has tabled in the House of Commons proposed regulations designed to reduce the fire risk posed by cigarettes. "I think it's a good idea," said Petrie. "Cigarette smoking, obviously, is a large contributor to household fires." Petrie said only a small percentage of the fires he's seen in Flin Flon originated with a cigarette, but added that a single incident is still one too many. The proposed regulations would require all cigarettes manufactured or imported for sale in Canada to meet a performance standard, intended to reduce fire risks, by Oct. 1, 2005. "These regulations reflect Canada's leadership in tobacco control," said Minister Dosanjh in a press statement. "We will be the first country to have a national standard to reduce the fire risk of cigarettes." The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs reported for the period 1995-1999 that at least 14,030 fires were started by smokers' materials. Those fires killed 356 people, injured 1,615 and cost more than $200 million in property damage. Tobacco manufacturers oppose the plan, saying reduced-ignition cigarettes often go out and taste bad after being re-lit.7/12/04
