State hears proposal to ban lighters that resemble toys

Tag : Toys Camera

They look like toys, a small camera, a chicken, a soccer ball, abear or a dolphin, but in fact, they are lighters.
Tuesday the Oregon Legislature’s Consumer ProtectionCommittee gathered in a quiet room to look at and talk about thelighters. They’re thinking about outlawing them in Oregon.
Judy Okulitch from the Office of the State Fire Marshall is urgingthem to act.
"It is appalling that lighters can be made to look like toysand it has united the fire service across the country to say thisis something we can prevent," said Okulitch.
There are no hard numbers showing whether toy lighters areresponsible for any fires or injuries or deaths in Oregon.
Firefighters say that’s because paper work filled out afteran incident does not allow for details about toy lighters.
But one fire fighter told lawmakers -- children have died becauseof the lighters.
Tim Birr, a retired fire fighter with 30 years experience recalleda fire in a Tualatin home in January of 2000. A 6-year-old boydied, he said.
Birr said evidence showed one or both boys in the home had playedwith a toy lighter that looked like a dolphin.
"I tell this story here this morning because you need to knowthat it did happen here, it does happen here -- it can happenhere," said Birr.
Representative Paul Holvey, a democrat from Eugene and the chair ofthe committee said he understood the attraction.
"If I was a 14-year-old kid I would think those were prettydarn cool too,” said Holvey. “And you know I'm surethat's kinda at the root of the problem -- they're pretty coollooking," Holvey said.
At Pennisula Park in North Portland, children play on swings asmom’s watch. They are appalled when shown a toy lighter.
"I think that they should not be sold and its too bad thatsomeone’s taking advantage of something like that,”said Donna Kayser.
“Its dangerous and I could totally see how a child wouldthink that's toy," she said as her 5-year-old Dane spun on aplayground ride.
Roberta Frison watches her children nearby. "Very harmful tothe children. I could just see one picking it up and burningthemselves real bad. Even catching their clothes on fire ... notknowing that the flame's coming out," she said.
Oregon’s legislature will not gather for a formal sessionuntil January of 2009. Those who are dedicated to banning the toylighters in the state say it can’t come soon enough.