May 4-10, 2008 is National Arson Awareness Week. This year's theme is "Toylike Lighters: Playing with Fire."
The goal of this year's Arson Awareness Week is to focus public attention on the dangers of toylike or novelty lighters in the hands of children. These types of lighters have been responsible for injuries, deaths, and accidents across the nation. These lighters are the leading ignition source for fires set by children.
Children are attracted to novelty lighters because they look like toys. Many of these lighters look like animals, miniature cars, mobile phones, cameras and make-up accessories. One lighter is nearly identical to the popular rubber ducky bath toy and even quacks!
Mistaking lighters for toys has proven to be deadly. On September 25, 2007, 15-month-old Peyton Edwards and 2-year-old Breydon Edwards of Russellville, Arkansas died after setting fire to their apartment with a motorcycle-shaped lighter. In another incident, Shane St. Pierre was was in a grocery store with his mother in Livermore, Maine last June buying sandwiches. Thinking it might be a flashlight, the 6-year-old picked up a miniature baseball bat and flicked the switch. A flame shot out, singeing his eyebrow and burning part of his face. As recently as April 11, 2008 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, two children were killed and two others injured when a fire broke out as the children were playing with a cigarette lighter.
The Wilmington Fire Department wants to educate as many children and parents as possible on the dangers of novelty lighters and will be visiting the following middle schools to educate students about the dangers of toy-like/novelty lighters:
Monday, May 5: Murray Middle Scool from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 6: Williston Middle School from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 8: Virgo Middle School from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Monday, May 12: Trask Middle School from 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 13: Noble Middle School from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Click on the image below to watch a Public Service Announcement on Novelty Lighters.
Click here to learn more about the Fire & Life Safety Division of the Wilmington Fire Department.