| Damon Albarn, the lead singer of the band 'Gorillaz' | | | | The most well known fires caused by smoking |
| has come under the spotlight recently because he | | | | are the Oxford Circus Station fire and the Kings |
| has flaunted fire safety laws in the UK by | | | | Cross disaster which claimed 31 lives on the 18th |
| smoking a cigarette on stage during the first night | | | | November 1987 in the UK. It is believed the fire |
| of their new tour. The leading anti-smoking charity | | | | started due to a commuter discarding a lit match |
| in the UK has called for him to be prosecuted. | | | | which was used to light a cigarette. This in turn fell |
| Former Blur front man Damon and his fellow band | | | | down the side of the escalator and set the |
| mate Paul Simonon were performing in | | | | station alight. |
| Portsmouth at the Wedgewood rooms when | | | | A discarded cigarette can still be alight and can |
| they sparked up cigarettes and began smoking on | | | | easily cause combustible substances such as |
| stage. | | | | paper, cloth or wood to ignite. Many people in the |
| ASH (Action Smoking Health) have called for the | | | | UK are killed when they fall asleep with a lit |
| pair to be prosecuted and fined for such an | | | | cigarette or cigar. |
| outrageous breach of safety laws. Amanda | | | | These tragedies helped to bring in laws in the UK |
| Sandford of ASH said "There can be no excuse | | | | that prevent smoking indoors at work places, |
| for that as it is an indoor place and the law is | | | | restaurants, cinemas and concerts. |
| very clear. We are not allowed to smoke on | | | | Bands such as the Gorillaz would be aware of |
| stage unless it is relevant to the act. It is not just | | | | these laws and from a safety perspective for |
| illegal but more importantly it is about the | | | | their fans should adhere to them. These fire |
| message it sends out to fans." | | | | related tragedies can be easily avoided. |
| Now ASH are concerned about the fact that it | | | | A major venue would have fire safety plans in |
| may encourage the bands fans to take up | | | | place and be equipped with fire alarms and fire |
| smoking which we all know is bad for your health. | | | | extinguishers to help alert staff of any danger or |
| Very bad. Smoking kills, full stop. But the | | | | tackle a small blaze before it gets out of hand. In |
| anti-smoking laws are in place for another reason | | | | the home the fire brigade recommend the |
| here in the UK. A lit cigarette poses a serious risk | | | | installation of smoke alarms to help warn people |
| of fire when discarded. Couple this with a public | | | | of a fire. These can be got free from your local |
| place and the risk to human life and property | | | | fire brigade and all households should take |
| damage is a serious threat. | | | | advantage of this service. |
| There are over 37,000 fires in the UK each year | | | | A fitted and working smoke detector has been |
| with around 800 deaths. Smoking is a major | | | | shown to improve your chances of surviving a |
| cause of these fires and as such the law is | | | | house fire by over 50%. Make sure the batteries |
| justified when it comes to not smoking at an | | | | are tested weekly by pressing the test button on |
| event such as a concert. There have been | | | | the alarm. Fire safety should be taken very |
| several major fire incidents in the past relating to | | | | seriously as loss of life can be prevented. |
| cigarettes which have caused horrific loss of life. | | | | |