Marceau says smoking fires on rise
ALPENA, Mich.– The Alpena Fire Department has noticed a worrying trend following a fire on Sunday.
Risk Reduction Officer Andy Marceau says improperly–disposed cigarettes caused a structure fire on long rapids road on Sunday. This was the city’s sixth smoking–related fire in the past 13 months.
Marceau says the trend worries him.
“We’ve had one fatality and six fires because of this. We don’t need to lose anyone else.”
Marceau says smoking is one of the top three causes of fatal fires.
He advises that smokers do so outdoors and away from their homes. Additionally, smokers should dispose their butts in metal cans filled with water or sand. Doing so ensures the butt is completely extinguished and safe to throw away.
