Hearth Record

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

Home product recall 03-081. Announced by CPSC on Feb 13, 2003.

  • CPSC: stop using it
CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Feb 13, 2003. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

These lighters do not have child-resistant mechanisms, as required by federal law. Young children can ignite the lighters, presenting fire and burn hazards.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

Consumers should stop using the lighters immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: 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.

Which ones are recalled?

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.

About 500 units, as CPSC gives them.

Dolphin-shaped cigarette lighters.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

CPSC’s photos

CPSC shows 3 photos on its notice. Hearth Record doesn’t copy them; each opens on cpsc.gov.

Who made and sold it?

  • Made by Young’s J.K. Inc., Portland, Ore.
  • 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.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

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.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
  • The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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