Cigarettes Prompted Cherry Hill House Fire: Officials

CHERRY HILL, NJ - Improperly disposed cigarettes are to blame for an accidental house fire in Cherry Hill early Friday morning, authorities said.

The blaze, reported on the 200 block of Merion Avenue, began in the porch area and extended into the house, Cherry Hill fire officials said.

No injuries were reported, officials added.

“The place where we feel safest — at home — is where most smoking-materials structure fires, deaths, and injuries occur. Smoking materials are the leading cause of fire deaths,” fire officials said in a Friday statement.

The Cherry Hill Fire Department provided several smoking safety tips in the statement, including using a deep, sturdy ashtray placed away from anything that can burn and ensuring cigarettes are put out and doused in water or sand.

“Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves or other things that could ignite easily,” fire officials said.