Loudoun County fire officials urging residents to properly dispose of smoking materials to avoid causing fires

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. ( DC News Now ) — Improperly discarded smoking materials started a fire at a Sterling warehouse that caused over $2 million in damages. A day later, the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) reminded residents to be more cautious.

LCFR said that residents should follow these practices for fire safety and prevention:

• Smoke outside
• Make sure all cigarettes are fully extinguished after usage
• Make sure all smoking materials are discarded in the correct containers which should be cleaned often
• Never use plastic, potted plants, mulch, grass, leaves or anything that can burn to extinguish smoking materials, as mulch and potting soil is combustible and will burn quickly when exposed to heat
• Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before it is thrown out as hot ashes can smolder for days
• Use a deep, sturdy ash tray and be sure it’s placed on a surface that won’t let it tip over
• Place containers away from structures and never on porches, decks or outside the door
• Make sure to have working smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas

The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that in 2021, there were about 7,800 fires, 275 deaths, 750 injuries and $361,500,000 in damages for residential building smoking fires and losses.

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