Careless Smoking Leading Cause of Fire Fatalities in Springfield

Smoking-related fatalities remain one of the leading causes of residential fires in the city of Springfield.

The Springfield Fire Department says in 2020, five of the seven fire fatalities in the city were related to careless smoking.

The department’s advice? If you smoke, never leave lit cigarettes or charging electronic cigarettes unattended, use deep, sturdy ashtrays with a stable base, such as a table that is difficult to tip over, and never smoke in bed or while drowsy.

The fire department has already responded to three fires resulting from careless smoking in 2021.