Oregon is the 9th state in the nation to set aside tobacco manufacturers arguments that safer-cigarette technology was unproven.
(TIGARD, Ore.) - State fire officials say a Tigard nursing home avoided potential tragedy recently when a fire-safer cigarette self extinguished after a resident fell asleep while smoking.
Oregon Governor Kulongoski signed Oregon's safer cigarette legislation in April, requiring only fire safer-cigarettes be sold in Oregon beginning January 1st 2008.
"Credit for this event not turning tragic goes to members of the Oregon fire service for making fire-safer cigarettes their number one legislative priority and to the Oregon Legislature for their near-unanimous support," says Oregon State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr.
Fire-safer cigarettes use specially designed paper with ‘speed bumps' to act as small fire breaks restricting the burning of tobacco. When not puffed on, the burning tobacco reaches one of these speed bumps and self-extinguishes.
In April, Oregon became just the 9th state in the nation to convince state legislators to set aside tobacco manufacturers arguments that safer-cigarette technology was unproven and forcing them to sell only fire-safer cigarettes would increase consumer costs.
Currently, 22 states have laws requiring the sale of fire-safer cigarettes and in October 2007, cigarette manufacturer R.J. Reynolds announced it will manufacture all of its cigarette brands using the fire-safer technology.
Source: State press release
Fire-Safer Cigarette Credited for Saving a Life in OregonSalem-News.com