Starting next month, cigarettes sold in Virginia must comply with standards aimed at making them less likely to start fires.
The General Assembly passed legislation in 2008 requiring that cigarettes sold in the state meet standards that make cigarettes more likely to self-extinguish.
The key change is the type of paper, which has several rows of less-porous bands that slow a cigarette’s burn rate and makes it more likely to extinguish when discarded or left unattended.
Preliminary data collected by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs shows that, in 2009, cigarettes and other smoking materials were identified as the cause of 150 structure fires, four fatalities, 12 civilian and two firefighter injuries and more than $6 million in property losses.
Topics Virginia
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
State Farm Adjuster’s Opinion Does Not Override Policy Exclusion in MS Sewage Backup 
World’s Growing Civil Unrest Has an Insurance Sting 
Fla. Commissioner Offers Major Changes to Citizens’ Commercial Clearinghouse Plan 
CFC Owners Said to Tap Banks for Sale, IPO of £5 Billion Insurer 
