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The sale of butane lighters that can be locked to produce a continuous flame has been banned in the city of Vancouver.
Council voted Wednesday to remove them from shelves starting June 28, and any retailer violating the ban will be subject to a $1,000 fine.
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Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) pushed for the ban to cut down on structure fires, serious injuries and deaths from the lighters’ misuse.
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In the past 15 months, the lighters have been to blame for a surge in serious incidents across the city, said VFRS Chief Karen Fry.
“Our firefighters have seen far too many fires, deaths and injuries at the hands of these devices,” said Fry in a news release Wednesday. “Restricting the sale of these lockable butane lighters is a significant step in reducing harm to vulnerable groups, risks to firefighters and the loss of valuable housing.”
According to the 2023 VFRS annual report, smoking and smoker materials were the leading cause of fires in Vancouver, accounting for 59 per cent of all fires. That’s an increase of 31 per cent from a year earlier.
Between January 2023 and April 2024, 3,128 fires have been attributed to careless use of lockable butane lighters; 356 of which those were sparked in the city’s single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings. The devices were considered the probable cause of 79 fire-related injuries and six deaths.
On top of the lighter ban, VFRS says it will keep working with SRO operators and staff to educate residents about the risks of open flames and safety training.
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