West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office

Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act

Novelty cigarette lighters are designed to look like toys, cartoon characters and other items that attract children's attention. They have been sold across the nation for some time and have been associated with the September 2008 deaths of two toddlers in Arkansas who died after starting a fire while playing with a motorcycle-shaped lighter that featured a flame from the tailpipe.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states that more than 5,000 fires a year are caused by children under the age of 5, although as of yet no statistics are available for novelty lighters.

However, the many interesting and colorful shapes of novelty lighters present a very real threat to children's safety. We know that young children are already at double the risk of dying in a residential fire, and the risk can increase with factors such as the presence of smoking materials and associated matches and lighters in the home.

Here in West Virginia we are pursuing introduction of legislation in the 2010 Session banning sales of all novelty cigarette lighters. We ask for your support whenever possible in contacting your representatives in the Senate and the House of Delegates.

Senator Foster introduced this bill last year and again this year. The bill cite is bill cite is §47-26-1 through 6, Senate Bill 227. Review Senate Bill 227.

To Support Legislation in West Virginia

Any groups interested in adding their support to this important life-safety legislation are encouraged to contact:

Carol Nolte
WV State Fire Marshal's Office
304-558-2191, ext. 53223.

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