The Bourne Fire departments is proud to participate in the S.A.F.E. program. S.A.F.E. stands for student awareness of fire safety and has made a difference in the lives of many children since 1996. Please contact  us for further information on the S.A.F.E. program. You may also obtain further information from the state S.A.F.E. homepage.

Massachusetts S.A.F.E. information

Every year, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. Fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials are preventable. You can make a difference!

The Facts:

Smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths in the United States. People close to where a smoking material fire starts are harder to save because the fire spreads fast. Most fires caused by smoking material start on beds, furniture, or in the trash.

In 2006, there were an estimated 142,900 smoking-material fires in the United States. These fires caused 780 civilian fire deaths and 1,600 civilian injuries.

Smokers are not the only ones who suffer from smoking home fires: One in four people killed in home fires is not a smoker whose cigarette caused the fire. Thirty-four percent are children of the smokers. Twenty-five percent are neighbors or friends of the smokers. Older adults are at the highest risk of death or injury from smoking-material fires even though they are less likely to smoke.

Most home fires caused by smoking materials start inside the home. It's better to smoke outside. If you smoke outside, put your cigarettes out in a can filled with sand. Use ashtrays with a wide, stable base that are hard to tip over. If it wobbles, it won't work. The cigarette really needs to be completely stubbed out in an ashtray. Soak cigarette butts and ashes in water before throwing them away. Never toss hot cigarette butts or ashes in the trash can.