Lighters present fire-start danger in rural Alaska

MAHLON GREENE

May 15, 2008 at 10:32AM AKST

Novelty lighters have become a serious problem as fire-starters throughout the country because of their toy-like appearance.

These lighters mimic common household items as well as children’s toys.

Many attract children with their visual effects, flashing lights and sounds. These lighters are not required to have child-safety features like a standard lighter.

Novelty lighters have been responsible for deaths, injuries and property loss throughout the United States, including Alaska.

Alaska State Fire Marshal David Tyler has joined several other states in an effort to pass legislation banning the sale of novelty lighters.

Another part of that effort was to develop a theme — “Toy Like Lighters: Playing With Fire” — around this year’s Arson Awareness Week, which was May 4-10 this year.

In addition to the problem of novelty lighters, Alaska is seeing an alarming increase in fires started by young children playing with matches and lighters.

In Anchorage, a 5-year-old boy lost his life in a fire that was started when children were playing with a lighter.

Three months later, in the village of Alakanuk, a 64-year-old man died in a fire started by a 4-year-old playing with a lighter.

Three days later, in the village of Wales, a 5-year-old boy was playing with a lighter and destroyed his home. His father was injured in the fire.

Alaskans need to step up and protect these precious youngsters from the devastation of fire. Young children are curious and don’t understand the destructive potential of fire.

Many times they are not supervised, and the matches and lighters are within their reach. These safety tips can help protect the children.

• Teach young children that fire is a tool, not a toy.

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach, in high, ideally locked, cabinets.
• Supervise young children.

• Ask young children to tell you when they find matches and lighters and put them away.

• Teach older children proper techniques for using fire and fire tools.

• Praise your child for practicing responsible behavior and showing respect for fire.

• Set a good example: Use matches, lighters, and fire carefully.

Meanwhile, fire safety should be a community-wide effort. These tips can be used by the entire community to protect children.

• Prevent curiosity fire-setting in the first place by providing fire and life safety education for children throughout the year.

• Organize and coordinate community-based screening, assessment and intervention programs.

• Identify and provide for the child’s and family’s needs — fire safety education, counseling, social services, etc. — using community resources.

• Assist parents/caregivers and all who work with children to better understand children’s involvement with fire, along with when and where to go for help.
 
Mahlon Greene, with the state Fire Marshal’s Office of the Alaska Department of Public Safety, can be reached at (907) 269-5052 or by
e-mail at mahlon.greene@alaska.gov.