INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana smokers may notice some small changes in the cigarettes they purchase beginning July 1. Fire-safe cigarettes have a reduced propensity to burn when left unattended and have proven to decrease the number of home fires.

Fire-safe cigarettes place two bands on the cigarette paper that are less porous than the surrounding paper. These bands require smokers to inhale at these bands to increase oxygen and the temperature of the burning cigarette paper enough to burn through the bands.

"The cigarettes are made from the same blend of tobacco as regular cigarettes," said Jim Greeson, Indiana State Fire Marshal and Indiana Department of Homeland Security Division of Fire and Building Safety Director. "The only difference to the consumer is they need to puff it more often or re-light it."

Traditional technology keeps a cigarette burning even without puffing. This is accomplished by including a significant amount of citrate-burning agents. Within 10 minutes, 90-100 percent of traditional cigarettes will cause fires in ignition tests - and a cigarette can smolder for up to 45 minutes.

"The only physical packaging difference is that fire safety packs are denoted with a small "FSC" printed under the bar code, a heavy black line above the UPC, a diamond symbol or the letters FS, LIP, or RIP," added Greeson.

Statistics on residential structure fires through the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) show that 138 reported smoking related fires occurred in Indiana in 2008. These fires caused four civilian deaths, and 11 civilian injuries with property loss at nearly $3.4 million. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, cigarette-ignited fires are the leading cause of home fire deaths in the United States, killing 700-900 people annually.

For more information on fire safe cigarettes, visit www.in.gov/dhs/firesafesmokes.htm.