Cigarettes Sold In La. Must Be Fire-Safe Beginning On Aug. 31
by Robert Morgan - The Town Talk (excerpt)

Alexandria fire investigator Tom Force knew there was a national move to mandate that only self-extinguishing cigarettes could be sold, but he was unaware that Louisiana already has such a law.

"I haven't heard anything about it locally. What I heard was they were trying to pass something nationally," Force said when contacted by The Town Talk.

Perhaps the State Fire Marshal's Office will do some public education on the subject before the law becomes effective Aug. 31. Fire-safe cigarettes are designed to go out if they are dropped or set aside for a period of time.

Louisiana's mandate was passed in 2007, but apparently got little attention in the midst of a legislative session that was part of an election year. Louisiana will be one of 14 states that have laws going into effect this year requiring the sale of only fire-safe cigarettes.

Act 409 of 2007 was authored by Rep. Karen St. Germain, D-Plaquemine, as the Louisiana Cigarette Fire Safety and Firefighter Protection Act.