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The Fire and Rescue Service has a vested interest in helping to promote No Smoking Day and encouraging people to give up smoking.

" Most people know the long term damage smoking can do to their health and why it makes sense to give up. What a lot of people don't know is smoking can kill you very quickly," said Assistant Divisional Officer Roger Wood Community Fire Safety Officer for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

"Carelessly discarded smoking materials is the biggest single cause of fire related deaths in the U.K, So don't be short sighted and think that the damage to your health can only be long term.

"Tobacco is manufactured to stay alight, especially cigarette tobacco. Cigarettes burn at a high temperature - up to 700 degrees Centigrade - and can smoulder out of sight. With this warning, the Fire and Rescue Service is not commenting on individuals lifestyle.

"Firefighters are simply saying: if you're a smoker please do not become complacent and take extra care. You'll avoid becoming a fatal statistic. Remember … Put it out. Right out ."

Roger continued, "Many of those most at risk are often older people and students living alone. In addition, they may also have furniture with the old style polyurethane foam, which can catch fire very easily and they may not have the early warning that comes from working smoke alarms.

If you do smoke

• Make sure you have completely extinguished smoking materials before leaving the house or going to bed.
  
  
• Don't empty ashtrays into bins; place them in a metal container and preferably outside.
  
  
• Never smoke in bed.

If you want to give up smoking call:
England Quitline
Scotland Smokeline
Northern Ireland
Wales