Beginning January 1, 2009, all cigarettes sold in Texas must meet low ignition propensity (LIP) standards. State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) said he hopes that the “fire-safe” cigarette requirement will reduce the number of accidental house fires and save lives.  While stores are required to stock the new cigarettes in January 2009, enforcement will not begin until January 1, 2010 to give retailers time to sell through their old inventories.  According to the Texas Department of Insurance,  cigarettes were the reported cause of about 500 residential house fires and 10 house fire deaths in Texas in 2006, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.