The number of smoking-related fires occurring outside of residences is increasing in Massachusetts and state fire officials are trying to combat the problem.
Half of all home fires caused by smoking in 2010 started on the exterior of the structures, State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan told The Boston Globe.
Coan says this is attributed to people being forced to smoke outside due to changing attitudes towards lighting up.
"People are smoking outdoors more than indoors," he told the newspaper. "We're seeing a fairly high number of fires originate on balconies; many of those relate to improper disposal of smoking materials and come from people not using proper types of containers for disposing of cigarettes."
Meanwhile, the state has seen a steady decline in the number of smoking-related fires inside homes, which were likely to occur in bedrooms and living rooms in the past.
He said that people discarding cigarette into mulch beds has become a particular problem.
In an attempt to change this, Coan says they have gotten approval through the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations for a new regulation that will require mulch not be placed within 18 inches of the side of commercial buildings.
"My hope is that this may drop down the number of fires caused by careless disposal," he said.
