AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci signed LD 2081 into law today, An Act to Prohibit the Retail Sale and Distribution of Novelty Lighters.

“Many novelty lighters resemble toys,” Governor Baldacci said. “With statistics that show that more than 5,000 household fires are caused each year by children under the age of 5, anything we can do to prevent children from playing with lighters will serve to save lives and homes.”

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Richard Sykes (R-Harrison) and was supported by Maine State Fire Marshal John Dean, president of the National Association of State Fire Marshals.

The national association is hoping that the ban on novelty lighters will be extended across the country.

Governor Baldacci said that tragedies involving novelty lighters are a reality around the country, including here in Maine.

“According to the Associated Press, two children died last year from a fire caused by a novelty lighter shaped like a tiny motorcycle,” said the Governor. “Additionally, a child in Maine was hurt when he played with a baseball bat-shaped lighter in a convenience store.”

Because the bill was passed as emergency legislation, the law takes effect immediately.