Arson Awareness Week is May 4–10 and this year’s theme is “Toylike Lighters — Playing with Fire.” The U.S. Fire Administration has released a media kit to help fire departments create awareness of this danger in their community. The kit contains information, a sample arson awareness week resolution, a sample proclamation request letter, links of interest, and more.

The National Volunteer Fire Council has partnered with the USFA, the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Fire Safe Children & Families Program, the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the Idea Bank to promote Arson Awareness Week.

Toylike or novelty lighters have been responsible for injuries, deaths, and accidents across the nation. Some local and state governments are taking action by banning their sale and limiting distribution. Children are attracted to novelty lighters because they look like toys.

This mistake has proven to be deadly. On Sept. 25, 2007, 15-month-old Peyton Edwards and 2-year-old Breydon Edwards of Russellville, Ark., died after setting fire to their apartment with a motorcycle-shaped lighter.

Children are not the only ones fooled by novelty lighters. Beaverton, Michigan, resident Laura Fowler purchased a novelty lighter for her 4-year-old child after mistaking it for a toy. In 2006, a South Carolina woman shot herself in the hand while attempting to light a cigarette with what she thought was a pistol-shaped novelty lighter.

The NVFC hopes that Arson Awareness Week will bring attention to the dangers of novelty lighters. Learn more about arson awareness and download the media kit at here.