CARM11 multi-purpose lighters

INCIDENT INVESTIGATION ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Multi-Purpose Lighters
DOCUMENT NUMBER:
DATE OF INCIDENT:

CATID: CARM11 2020

FOLLOW-UP REQUESTED

HAZARD ANALYSIS

COMPLIANCE

PRIMARY CONTACT: Julio Alvarado, CRC, 301-504-7418, JAlvarado@cpsc.gov
BACK-UP CONTACT:
ASSIGNMENT MESSAGE:

For any residential fires reported to be caused by a child playing with a multi-purpose lighter, first
call the fire department official(s) who investigated the cause of the fire. Determine the age of the
child who allegedly started the fire and whether the lighter involved was recovered after the fire.
For convenience, all of these items are listed on the Data Record Sheet attached to the guideline. A
narrative is not required for this investigation.
If the lighter was destroyed in the fire and cannot be positively identified by type of lighter, brand
name, or store where purchased, submit an abbreviated investigation with the above information
documented. If the child who started the fire was 5 years of age or older at the time of the incident,
submit an abbreviated report documenting any identifying information for the lighter available in
the official reports. If the fire starter was under the age of 5 years, and the lighter is available for
collection or for photographing, conduct an on-site investigation.
Collect the lighter if at all possible, otherwise determine the model and manufacturer's name, steps
required for operation (activation of switches, triggers, buttons, etc.), and get close-up photographs
of the lighter ignition mechanism(s) if it was recovered. Be especially alert to incidents involving
child-resistant lighters in which the CR mechanism was removed or otherwise defeated. In these
situations, determine who removed or defeated the mechanism and if it was purchased without a
CR mechanism in place, identify the retailer who sold the lighter.
Please include all primary and all backup contacts in the distribution of the completed IDI.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Area below will be completed in Data Systems _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Person(s) to Contact:
Guidelines: Appendix 45 – Child Play Lighter Fires
Task Number:
Assigned to:

CPSC FORM 324A

Date:
Processed by: lew