New Law Requires ‘Fire-Safe’ Cigarettes

A measure that could make New York the first state to require that all cigarettes be self-extinguishing was signed into law by Gov. George Pataki. The “fire-safe” cigarette law is designed to reduce fires that happen when smokers fall asleep or otherwise handle a cigarette carelessly. By mid-2003, all cigarettes sold in New York must be designed in such a way that they will go out after a while if the smoker does not take a puff. Fire officials estimate that at least a third of the fire deaths in the state happened in blazes sparked by careless smoking.