Recall: Young's J.K. Recall of Novelty Lighters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2003 Release # 03-081

Firm's Recall Hotline: (503) 998-9801 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

CPSC, Young's J.K. Inc. Announce Recall of Novelty Lighters

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Young's J.K. Inc., of Portland, Ore., is voluntarily recalling about 500 novelty cigarette lighters. These lighters do not have child-resistant mechanisms, as required by federal law. Young children can ignite the lighters, presenting fire and burn hazards.

CPSC has received one report of a 2-year-old using one of these lighters to ignite an upholstered chair. The fire resulted in the death of his 6-year-old brother and permanent brain damage to the 2-year old.

The refillable, dolphin-shaped cigarette lighters are butane gas- fueled and made of metal. There are three models involved in this recall. One of the lighters features a dolphin with a large ball and is labeled "1988.8 Young's Wholes 14.9." Another lighter features a single dolphin and is labeled "00005011 $14.00 EA." The last model features two dolphins and a ball, and has no label.

Gas stations, smoke shops, grocery, gift and liquor stores sold the lighters in Oregon and Southwest Washington from 1996 through October 2001 for between $8 and $20.

Consumers should stop using the lighters immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers can contact Young's J.K. collect at (503) 998-9801 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.