FDNY Partners with Advocacy Groups to Urge Ban of Lighters that Resemble Toys

Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano, Chief of Department Edward Kilduff and Chief Fire Marshal Robert Byrnes joined representatives from the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY), Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the New York Public Interest Research Group on Dec. 12 at the FDNY Fire Zone to urge lawmakers to ban the sale of flame-producing lighters that resemble toys, known as novelty lighters.

“Novelty lighters send mixed messages to kids,” Commissioner Cassano said. “They can’t see the danger in their hands – and that’s not fair to them. Legislation banning such lighters will keep families safe, as well as firefighters who try to keep New Yorkers safe.”

Chief Fire Marshal Byrnes added, “Having a novelty lighter when a child is in the house is like leaving around a loaded firearm. These lighters are begging kids to play with them out of curiosity.”

He mentioned that just days earlier, two fires in New York City were started by children. And each year more than 140 children are killed when playing with cigarette lighters nationwide.

“We want families to know that we are opposed to novelty lighters,” said Jim Burns, FASNY President. “They are an attraction for children, which can result in them burning themselves or burning the house down.”

FDNY fire marshals have a Juvenile Fire Setters Intervention Program, to help families with children who participate in dangerous behavior involving fire.