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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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FIRE CHIEFS APPLAUD ATKINS FOR FIRE-PREVENTION LEGISLATION
ST. PAUL – The Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association recently singled out a bill authored by Representative Joe Atkins as the most important fire-prevention legislation passed in Minnesota in over 30 years. Atkins’ bill requires all cigarettes sold in Minnesota to be “fire-safe," which means they self-extinguish if left unattended too long. Rep. Atkins shepherded the bipartisan bill through the legislature without opposition, bringing all interested parties together to gain nearly unanimous support.
"Fires caused by cigarettes kill 700-900 people every year – smokers and non-smokers alike," said Atkins. "In fact, cigarettes are the leading cause of home fire fatalities in the United States."
Similar laws in New York, Vermont, California, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts have caused sharp reductions in the number of fires caused by cigarettes in those states. Atkins anticipates the same success in Minnesota.
Careless smoking accounts for 25% of fire deaths, according to Nyle Zikmund of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association, who supported Atkins’ bill. “There is no single issue that will have a greater impact on reducing the occurrence of fires and more importantly, fire deaths, than this legislation,” said Zikmund, who also serves as Blaine’s fire chief. “In fact, this legislation ranks second only to smoke detector legislation, which was passed in the early 1970’s, in terms of making an impact,” he said.
"Fire-safe" cigarettes are designed by the manufacturer in a way that slows down the burning of the cigarette itself, causing it to self-extinguish if left unattended for too long. The most common fire-safe technology used by cigarette manufacturers is to wrap the cigarette in three thin bands of less porous paper that act as "speed bumps" that make the burning of the tobacco slow down and eventually, go out.
"The technology is available and it saves lives," said Atkins. "It's time we take advantage of it.”
Chief Zikmund expressed his gratitude to Representative Atkins for carrying the bill in recent letter. “The citizens of Minnesota, which includes 20,000+ volunteer and career firefighters, are better served and much safer thanks to your efforts,” Zikmund said.
This bill was included in the Public Safety Omnibus Bill that passed the House and Senate this session, and was signed into law by the Governor. The new law will take effect this summer.
News Items
- Rep. Atkins, Sen. Lourey Introduce Health Insurance Exchange Legislation - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:44PM)
- Rep. Atkins – Statement on Deal to End NHL Lockout - (Posted: Jan 7 2013 2:05PM)
- Rep. Atkins to Hold Minnesota House Hearing on Economic Impact of Hockey Lockout - (Posted: Jan 2 2013 3:20PM)
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