Dying cigarettes bill passed
House Bill 2163, requiring all cigarettes sold in Oregon to be self extinguishing, to prevent accidental fires, was signed into law last week.
Gov. Kulongoski signed the bill. Those at the signing included Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene), Rep. Mike Schaufler (D-Happy Valley), Oregon State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr and members of the Oregon fire service.
“Currently, cigarettes are a leading cause of fire deaths, injuries and property loss in Oregon,” Kulongoski said. “We are taking a major step to increase the safety of all Oregonians from accidental fires due to unattended cigarettes.”
From 1999 through 2005, cigarettes caused 8,824 fires in Oregon resulting in 37 deaths, 185 injuries and more than $32 million in direct property loss.
“The Legislature deserves credit for passing this legislation,” said Orr. “The Oregon fire service has been working on this issue for more than 30 years and now we have a law that
will significantly reduce the likelihood of fire deaths, injuries, and property loss from unintentional fires caused by cigarettes.”
This is common sense legislation that will prevent property damage and save lives,” said Prozanski. He is chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee
which passed HB 2163, and he led efforts during the 2005 legislative session for fire-safer cigarettes.
“This bill will save lives, property and trees," added Schaufler.
Under the legislation, starting Jan. 1, 2008, only fire-safer cigarettes will be legal for sale in Oregon. The fire-safer cigarette technology uses specially designed paper with “speed bumps” to act as small fire-breaks restricting the burning of tobacco.
When not puffed on, the burning tobacco will reach one of these speed bumps and
self-extinguish, it is stated.
“The diverse interests that came together to pass this bill are a testament to its importance in protecting Oregonians,” said the governor. “Fire Marshal Nancy Orr deserves recognition for her leadership in bringing all interests to the table, from the firefighters to the tobacco industry, to deliver consensus on this legislation.”
Oregon now joins nine other states (California, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Utah, and Vermont) and Canada in passing a fire-safer cigarette law.
