Islington Tribune - News: Smoking ban

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 27 July 2007

Smoking ban leads to rise in bin fires

FIRES in rubbish bins have risen dramatically following the ban on smoking in public places.
The ban has pushed smokers out on to the street and some of the more careless, fearful of a £50 fine for dropping butts, are failing to stub out properly.
In an average month, firefighters will attend around 25 to 30 “secondary” fires, the name the brigade gives to those caused in piles of rubbish. Last month, they recorded 43 across Islington as smokers took to the pavements in preparation for the July 1 ban.
Islington’s fire chief, Peter Cowup, said he could not directly attribute the rise to increase numbers of people puffing on the streets, but warned: “Be very careful about how you extinguish cigarettes, put them out properly and use an ashtray.”
Borough commander Cowup has added his backing to the London Fire Brigade’s campaign for a ‘fire-safe cigarette’.

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