Letter to the Editor
The Saratogian
October 13, 2012

As Fire Prevention Week comes to a close, we must take the lessons learned about the dangers of fire and apply them throughout the year to best protect our communities.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoking remains the leading cause of fire-related deaths and the source of over $663 million in property damage annually. These needless deaths and property damage are preventable.

In order to protect your family as well as your home from the threat of fire, don’t smoke in your home and if living in an apartment, encourage your landlord to adopt a smoke-free policy for your building. It can be done. Already, more than 50 apartment complexes in the Capital Region are smoke-free.

By going smoke-free, you’ll not only be protecting yourself from second-hand smoke, but you may also prevent a fire.

For more information go to www.smokefreehousingny.org.

Matthew Andrus
Southern Adirondack Tobacco-Free Coalition
Saratoga Springs