Iowa was among five states which enacted laws making stores sell only fire-safe cigarettes.

Iowa joins 35 other states which have either passed or implemented similar laws, including Minnesota.  Yet South Dakota is one of a handful of states still without a fire-safe cigarette law.  But local smokers say they think legislation isn't far away.

Fire-safe cigarette laws have been passed across the country since 2003. The cigarettes are designed to go out after a couple of minutes if they're set aside, made with the goal of keeping smokers safe. 

"I think it would be a good thing because there would be less fires," said Larry Haas of Sioux Falls.  "There would probably be people like me who fall asleep with a cigarette in their hands. It would fall out into a chair or into a couch and start a fire."

Haas says fire-safe cigarette legislation in South Dakota could not only keep people safe, but could also keep them from smoking altogether. 

"As far as fire safety goes, I think it'd be a good thing," said Haas.  "And it may be a deterrent to get people to think hard about quitting smoking."

Critics say the fire-safe cigarettes taste different from regular cigarettes, and others are skeptical about the prospect of fire-safe cigarette laws. Michael Meemken of Sioux Falls is not a smoker, but says legislation could just be a nuisance that forces people to go to states without fire-safe cigarette laws...like South Dakota. 

"I think it would just be more of a headache for them," said Meemken.  "I know it's supposed to be safer if they drop their cigarette or fall asleep with 'em, but what happens if you talk?  Do you just need to keep re-lighting it and stuff?"

With the number of fire-safe states around South Dakota rising, some believe legislation could be coming soon. 

"Since the surrounding areas have already gone fire-safe, they can't really sneak around that much," said Liz Steele of Sioux Falls They'll probably just have to accept the fact we're trying to be fire-safe."

According to the Coalition For Fire-Safe Cigarettes, as of now, no one has filed fire-safe legislation in South Dakota. 

The U.S. Fire Administration says almost one thousand citizens die annually in home fires caused by cigarettes or other smoking products.