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Playing with fire
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Scott Rice, deputy fire marshal of Klamath Fire District No. 1, holds up a novelty lighter he uses to teach children the difference between toys and tools. |
Local fire officials concerned about novelty lighters that look like toys
By RYAN PFEIL
H&N Staff Writer
“A lot of them look like toys,” she said.
Klamath County fire district officials say that’s why they consider novelty lighters dangerous, and why they urge parents to be cautious with the devices and keep them out of younger hands.
Scott Rice, deputy fire marshal of Fire District No. 1, said documenting statistics where toy lighters caused a fire are difficult because the lighter often burns in the fire. The flint is usually the only remaining piece.
“We can’t tell if it’s a novelty lighter,” Rice said. “We just know it’s a lighter of some sort.”
“We’ve got to increase awareness on this because these are truly dangerous,” said Donna Disch, legislative coordinator with the Oregon Fire Marshal’s office.
Federal bill
Disch is among those backing a federal bill that would ban novelty lighters in the U.S. The reason for the bill is to protect children.
Rice said if a law banning the devices passed, local fire stations would have to find resources to monitor local businesses.
“It’s one of those things where you have to pick your battles,” Rice said. “Not to say it’s not a worthy issue.”
At this point, experts say the best option is for parents to do their best keeping the devices out of their children’s hands.
Vilhauer agreed.
“Kids will be kids,” she said. “But parents have to be parents.”
Store-bought
More than 70 million novelty lighters have been imported into the United States from China, Indonesia and Korea. The devices are illegal in Europe, according to Klamath County Fire District No. 1 officials.
“So that just floods the United States,” said Rice.
The lighters are found most frequently at convenience stores, smoke shops and gas stations. They cost around $5. Some examples of the novelty at stores around Klamath Falls include lollipops, snowmen, fire engines and a gorilla that makes noise when it’s lit.
Oregon law states that purchasers of any fire-starting device must be 18, but Rice said this law does not prevent minors from theft when they are put out on the front counter.
Children also talk their parents into buying one of the novelty lighters for them.
“In that case, I refuse to sell them,” Vilhauer said. But sometimes parents challenge her decision.
“ ‘I’m his parent, I should be able to decide.’ I think that’s the biggest one,” Vilhauer said.
For more information on novelty lighters, go to www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Novelty_Toylike_Lighters.shtml.">www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Novelty_Toylike_Lighters.shtml.
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