Summary
- Always put out cigarettes and hot coals out when finished smoking.
- Install smoke alarms in every room where people smoke, including bedrooms.
- Don't smoke in bed.
- Don't smoke when drinking or on medication.
- Charge vapes safely and never use a damaged vape.
Smoking causes deadly house fires
All it takes for a fire to start is for a lit cigarette to fall onto a bed, couch or other soft surface.
Sadly, people have died from house fires which started when they fell asleep holding a cigarette after having a few drinks while watching TV.
Unless there's a working smoke alarm to alert you straight away, a fire like this can be deadly. And even with a smoke alarm, you might only have minutes to escape.
Stay safe when smoking
1. Never disconnect or remove smoke alarms
All homes in Victoria must have a working smoke alarm, because smoke alarms save lives. CFA recommends a smoke alarm in every room where smoking may occur, including bedrooms. This is so you wake up and can escape quickly if a fire starts.
2. Don't smoke in bed
Smoking in bed is one of the leading causes of fire-related deaths. It's easy to fall asleep and not realise a cigarette has set fire to your bedding. To stop this happening, never smoke in bed. If you can, smoke outside.
3. Completely put out cigarettes
Flicked cigarette butts have caused large fires in high-rise apartment buildings as well as major bushfires.
Dropping lit cigarette butts and other smoking materials such as shisha coals in the outdoors is illegal. During the Fire Danger Period (FDP) in Victoria, if a fire starts from a cigarette you drop, you could face a $23,000 fine or 12 months in prison or both. On a Total Fire Ban day, these penalties are doubled.
Follow these tips to make sure you don't accidentally start a fire:
- Don't put cigarette butts on anything which can catch fire, and don't flick them over balconies or onto the ground.
- Never walk away from cigarette butts that are still burning
- Always put out your cigarette before leaving home or going to sleep. A heavy, high-sided ashtray made from glass or metal is the safest way to dispose of cigarette butts. An empty glass or aluminium drink container is a safe alternative.
- Put out your cigarette ash by pouring water on them.
4. Don't smoke when affected by alcohol, drugs or medication
Smoking when affected by alcohol, drugs or medication can cause drowsiness. This can lead to clumsiness and poor decision-making.
5. Don't smoke near medical oxygen
Smoking near medical oxygen is dangerous, as fires can start more easily and may burn faster in the presence of oxygen. People who use medical oxygen also often have health conditions that may make them slower to recognise and respond if a fire does start. For these reasons, it's best not to smoke near medical oxygen.
6. Charge vapes and e-cigarettes safely to prevent fires starting
Fires caused by vapes are most likely to happen when a vaping device is damaged or being charged.
- Don't leave your vapes in hot places where they can overheat. For example, don't leave them on the dashboard of your car.
- Keep vapes away from metal objects, like keys in your pocket or handbag because they can short circuit and catch fire.
- Always charge devices safely and never use damaged vapes.
Laws for the regulation of vapes were introduced in 2024 to protect the health of the community, particularly young people.
7. Smoke shisha safely
In most hookahs, hot charcoal is placed in a bowl on top of the tobacco (shisha) to heat it. You can prevent fires starting by following this advice when smoking shisha:
- Remove anything near the hookah and coals that can catch fire easily.
- Light coals in an area without wind, or use a bowl or wind cover.
- Never hold hot coals over anything that can catch fire.
- Carry coals carefully and use strong, secure tongs and charcoal holder.
- Make sure your hookah and bowl are on a flat, stable surface.
- Don't leave hoses where people can trip over them.
- Put out your coals when you finish smoking by dropping them into a heat proof container and pouring water over them until covered and leave for a few minutes.
- Never walk away from hot coals, or throw them out without putting them out first.
Resources
Smoking and fire safety factsheet
Download Victorian Fire Services smoking and home fire safety factsheet.
Page last updated: Monday, 7 September 2026 7:47:14 PM