New figures reveal 20% rise in smoking-related fires since Covid lockdown announced

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has published figures showing a startling rise in smoking-related fires in the capital since the start of the UK lockdown. The 20% increase in fires comes despite the recently reported fall in smokers, with 1 million people in the UK kicking the habit during the pandemic.

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of fires, with hundreds of fires around the country caused by discarded cigarettes each year. In November 2019, The Cube in Bolton was devastated by a fire now concluded to have been started by a discarded cigarette on a combustible balcony. This is, sadly, a staggeringly common occurrence with a litany of balcony fires caused by smoking materials the length and breadth of the country.

LFB report in their latest figures that smoking materials caused over 500 fires during the lockdown period. Most notable was a blaze in a block of flats in Kennington in June started by a discarded cigarette from a higher floor igniting a first-floor balcony. Whilst the flat was destroyed, all residents fortunately were able to evacuate although 18 adults and children required treatment by ambulance crews.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said: “When you read that one million people have given up smoking in the recent months, you expect the number of smoking fires to mirror that and decrease, but we have actually seen the opposite.”

“Lots of people have been working from home and staying indoors more, which might explain why we have seen a spike in smoking-related fires which start in various rooms in the home as people bring their smoking habits inside.”

Short of an apparently very unlikely behavioural change in smokers, the only way to reduce the risk of fires on balconies being caused by discarded cigarettes is for all combustible materials to be removed and replaced with non-combustible options, such as aluminium decking. The AliDeck range of decking products is A-Rated for fire safety and is non-combustible. Taking this simple step to remove combustible materials such as timber or composite balcony decking will immediately result in safer buildings and, in the long run, save lives and property.

To discuss your timber or composite replacement options, call the AliDeck team on 01622 534 038 or email info@alideck.co.uk.