Cigarettes spark string of Edmonton fires

Edmonton Fire Rescue officials are sounding the alarm over a spate of fires caused by improperly discarded cigarettes.

On Wednesday fire crews responded to six separate fires sparked by cigarettes, resulting in a total of $131 thousand in property damages.

"These types of fires are especially frustrating because they're so easy to prevent," says Wayne Pawlowski, chief of fire inspections. "All you need is a coffee tin with sand or water in it or a $2 pocket ashtray to put out your cigarette."

Fire investigators say these preventable fires have already caused an estimated $1 million in damages in 2011.

"It's never okay to improperly discard a cigarette butt regardless of the season or the weather," Pawlowski says. "The bottom line is if you smoke, use an ashtray, and make sure your cigarette is completely extinguished."