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BILLINGS - During the past few weeks, cigarettes have started two separate fires in Billings, but officials say that shouldn’t been happening.

Montana Legislators passed a law requiring all cigarettes sold in Montana to be fire safe. That means any cigarettes sold in the state shouldn’t smolder or start a fire after being used.

Billings Police Sergeant Kevin Iffland says enforcement of the new law lies with the state. "That’s where the enforcement comes in, it’s through the Department of Revenue and their agents. They have to make sure the businesses that have the license to sell cigarettes are selling the proper brands and fire safe labels," said Iffland.

The new law went into effect on May 1, 2008.

CONCERNS have been raised about the availability of candy-style imitation cigarettes to children in Scarborough.

The sweets, which look remarkably like a hand-rolled cigarette and packaged in replica cigarette packets are now accessible in some shops in Scarborough.

A Scarborough couple have brought it to the attention of the Evening News after witnessing, what they thought, was a child smoking.

John Palethorpe, of Maria’s Court, said: "The child, was with his mother and he was about nine-years-old. She was smoking and he had one of these cigarettes pretending to smoke – emulating exactly what the mother was doing."

He said he and his wife, Sandra, realised that it was a sweet and were then alerted to the fact that this type of sweet was available in Scarborough shops.

He added: "It is an absolute disgrace. The packets look so much like an American or European cigarette packet. It is diabolical that these should be allowed to be sold to children."

North Yorkshire Trading Standards said it was not illegal to sell the products.

Derek Smith, consumer services section leader, said: "Sugar ‘cigarettes’ and novelty ’smokers sets’ made from chocolate or liquorice, were common place at one time.

"As the public became more aware of the dangers associated with smoking tobacco, coupled with the health promotions to prevent children taking up the habit, the demand for these types of products waned.

"Recently there has been a trend for buying so-called retro candy such as aniseed balls and spangles. It’s unfortunate that chocolate cigarettes have re surfaced but it’s not illegal to sell them and it’s really up to retailers to decide whether or not it’s a product with which they wish to be associated."

Mr Palethorpe said: "This type of sweet is just encouraging children to smoke. Both myself and Sandra smoke and we believe it be the worst thing in our lives that we have ever done. We try to cut down, but it is hard. And now we both suffer from illnesses that are smoking-related."

STEPHENS CITY — A pack of smokes will cost 25 cents more in town when a new tax adopted Tuesday takes effect.

The Town Council voted 6-1 at its regular meeting to approved an ordinance creating a 25-cent excise tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes. Mayor Ray Ewing, Vice Mayor Joy Shull and councilmen Ronald Bowers, John Hollis, Lindel Fravel Jr. and Micheal Grim voted to approve the ordinance on the final reading. Councilman John Harter gave the dissenting vote.

"There were enough people in this town that didn’t like the idea, and somebody had to vote against it," Harter said, explaining his vote.

Bowers disagreed.

"I think it’s a fair tax because you’re putting it on an elected product," Bowers said.

Currently, four businesses within town limits sell cigarettes and would have to charge the tax. Sellers must display a cigarette stamp provided by the town. Taxes will be collected by the town treasurer. The tax per individual cigarette will be 1.25 cents, but the total revenue should be around $25,000, according to Town Manager Mike Kehoe.

In other business, the council:

* Adopted a resolution to address "Virginia’s transportation funding crisis," by which the town supports the efforts of the governor and the General Assembly "to act swiftly and decisively to approve legislation that will address the transportation funding crisis at the statewide, regional and local levels."

The resolution also states that such legislation should include new tax and fee revenue, including tolls on new highways, to ensure safe roads, ease congestion, promote economic development and provide consumer choices.

* Held a public hearing on the proposed 2008-2009 budget. No one spoke during the hearing. The total budget is proposed at $1.45 million, compared to $1.66 million for the current fiscal year. The council scheduled a June 12 special meeting at which they plan to vote on the budget.

Also, the council approved a motion extending the deadline to pay real estate and personal property taxes to June 30. Bills were to be due Thursday.

* Voted unanimously to award a contract to American Disposal Inc. for refuse collection. The contract is for one year at $101,192. Evergreen Waste Inc. currently provides the service for nearly $90,000 but submitted a bid of $125,881 for the next year, the second-highest of three bids.

* Voted unanimously to adopt a resolution requesting that the Virginia Department of Transportation reduce the speed limit on U.S. 11 (Valley Pike), 0.95 miles south of the previous town limits, from 55 mph to 45 mph.