Most of us cannot imagine the courage and skill required to fight a raging fire, but Hawai'i firefighters risk their lives every time they get a call, and if there is any way that we can help reduce the number of fires each year, we should do it. Gov. Linda Lingle has given notice that she intends to veto the fire-safe cigarette bill because there are no funds attached to the program. I urge the governor to reconsider this position.

The State Fire Council says that they are able to implement the law without additional funding this fiscal year. Therefore, there is no reason to veto the bill and every reason to let it go forward, the most dramatic of which is that it can save lives.

Cigarettes are the leading cause of home fatalities in the U.S., representing 25 percent of all fire deaths and killing between 700 and 900 people, smokers and non-smokers alike, per year. According to the State Fire Council, 438 of the fires in Hawai'i between 2001 and 2006 were caused by cigarettes left idle, which resulted in $1,461,125 in property damage and 10 injuries. Public education is critical, but fire-safe cigarettes will help to avoid the loss of homes, families and pets through fire.

As a volunteer for the Red Cross, I have seen firsthand the tragic consequences of house fires and brushfires in Hawai'i. A few weeks ago, along with the Honolulu Fire Department, we responded to provide aid to a family who lost their 'Ewa home to a fire. Luckily, no one was killed, but the loss of everything they owned was devastating.

Many brushfires are started by the casual flick of a cigarette, and fire-safe cigarettes can and will make a difference in reducing these hazards. This legislation will not only protect homes and the lives of the public, but will protect the lives of our firefighters by reducing house and brushfires caused by cigarettes.

Earlier this year, Honolulu Fire Chief Kenneth Silva said that fire-safe cigarettes add an extra layer of protection against fire hazards. While they won't completely prevent fires, they are less likely to cause a fire. The county fire departments will also continue to educate the public that smoking-related fires can be prevented by not smoking in bed or when sleepy, and of the importance of keeping matches and lighters out of children's sight and reach.

In addition to the State Fire Council, all of our county fire chiefs supported House Bill 2438, which ensures that only fire-safe cigarettes are sold in Hawai'i. If the governor allows the bill to become law, we will be in good company.

Canada was the first country to adopt a fire-safe cigarette policy nationwide in 2005. The Australian government is working toward a similar policy by 2009. In the U.S., eleven states have implemented fire-safe cigarette laws, 25 states have passed legislation and eight states have pending legislation. This covers more than 76 percent of the population in this country. There are only six states in the U.S. that have not taken any action.

What is the difference between fire-safe cigarettes and regular cigarettes? The fire-safe cigarettes are manufactured with a different type of cigarette paper that is thicker in three different areas of the cigarette, and if you are not actively smoking, the flame hits the thicker band and self-extinguishes. By design, the position of the bands, much like speed bumps, will cause the cigarette to go out when left idly burning. They are less likely to cause a fire if dropped on a mattress or tossed out a car window.

The role of the Fire Council will be to establish rules for performance standards and testing for quality control. If the State Fire Council says it can get the program started without additional funding, I hope Lingle will listen and reconsider her intent to veto the bill.

The Fourth of July weekend is traditionally a time for increased fire hazards. Let's support our local firefighters who put their lives on the line every day putting out fires caused by unattended cigarettes. We should all be working together to minimize fire disasters. We can help save lives and property through this legislation.

Rep. Ryan Yamane represents District 37 (Waipahu, Mililani), and is chairman of the House Committee on Tourism and Culture. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.