Three county fire chiefs, the Hawaii Firefighters Association, the National Fire Protection Association and some state lawmakers yesterday applauded the passage of fire-related bills this legislative session, including one that would mandate that all cigarettes sold in Hawai'i be of the "fire-safe" variety by 2009.

The "fire-safe" cigarette bill awaits Gov. Linda Lingle's signature. Fire-safe cigarettes burn very slowly when not being smoked.

According to the legislation, fire-safe cigarettes are designed to reduce accidental fires but are not guaranteed to "self-extinguish."

State Rep. Ryan Yamane, D- 37th, (Waipahu, Mililani) introduced several of the fire-related measures and said, "Cigarettes are the leading cause of home fatalities in the U.S., killing between 700 to 900 people, smokers and non-smokers alike, per year. Public education is critical, but fire-safe cigarettes will help to avoid the loss of homes, families and pets through fire."

According to the National Fire Protection Association, similar requirements for fire-safe cigarettes have been adopted in 27 states. Sixteen other states are considering similar legislation this year.

Among fire-related bills the groups supported yesterday is one that requires convicted defendants to reimburse salaries, benefits, overtime, maintenance, repair and other costs for battling arson-related fires.