Tips to Prevent House Fires and New York Property Insurance Claims

In many cases, smokers pay more for their New York property insurance premiums than non-smokers. This is because smoking is accompanied by the risk of a house fire being sparked by a lit cigarette. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), there were 114,800 smoking-related fires in the US in 2008, causing 680 deaths, 1,520 injuries and $737 million in direct property damage.

The good news is there has been a significant drop in fires caused by smoking materials. In 1980 there were 334,300 fires, and in 1990 there were 195,800 fires. In 47 per cent of smoking related fires, alcohol was also involved.

To reduce the risk of causing a house fire, always smoke outside and use a wide ashtray. Make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished before you dispose of them. In addition to lit cigarettes, fire-lighting devices such as matches or lighters create another potential fire hazard. Make sure these are not within reach of children. It is possible to purchase fire safe cigarettes, which don’t completely eliminate the possibility of a fire but may reduce the risk.

The risks associated with smoking (apart from the obvious health problems) mean non-smokers may be able to access cheaper New York property insurance rates. When you add up the cost of cigarettes, health and property insurance, as well as potential medical fees, you may be surprised just how expensive smoking can be in the long term.

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