GStar multi-purpose lighters, fuel

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Emergency room

   Made Oct 29, 2017 · , sent to the company Nov 14, 2017 · , published by CPSC Nov 29, 2017

   The product, in the report: GStar TorchZilla series windproof jet flame butane lighter

   My daughter, who is 27, went outdoors with her boyfriend and decided she wanted to smoke a cigarette. She went back into the house to get a lighter and grabbed a GStar Torchzilla wind proof jet flame butane lighter that was sitting on the bar inside the house. As she was returning, she paused in the room leading to the back patio to see if the lighter worked. She clicked the lighter button/switch and noticed it barely had a flame. She let go of the button, tilted the lighter to turn the bottom plastic adjustment lever toward the + for more flame, thinking the flame was off. That is when the plastic piece on the bottom of the lighter that she was turning flew off and a ball of fire ignited in front of her. She gasped and fell to the floor. The fire burned her hair (at the forehead hairline and some at the ends), her face, nose, lips, upper arm and tip of tongue. We immediately took her to the local emergency room and from there they decided she would be transferred via ambulance to a burn hospital in a city 150 miles away because they were not equipped with the staff or facilities to handle burn victims or the possible outcome of the burns. Thankfully the burn facility determined that she suffered mostly first degree and some second degree burns, but said that she was very lucky because it could have been worse.

   We have not been able to find contact information for the manufacturer. After doing a little research, we have found online reviews about the same type of lighter, made by same manufacturer, that describe the lighter leaking butane, and malfunctioning and staying lit even after letting go of the igniter switch. In some reviews people said it caused a fire or burned their clothing or furniture because it remained lit and they didn’t realize it. The lighter is described as a “fire hazard” or “dangerous” in several online reviews. Because of the reviews, GStar has also posted disclaimers about the possible hazards of the lighter in an attempt to make it clear that they are not liable for any injuries. To me, this further proves this lighter is unsafe.

   The lighter that caused my daughters injuries was purchased by my husband at a gas station along an interstate highway and they are sold online, as well as at many other convenience stores. When he purchased the lighter it did not come with any literature or warning stickers attached to it. We were unaware of any of the possible dangers associated with this specific lighter. It was not until after the incident that we began to research this information. If the manufacturer knows that there are defects with this lighter, they should not continue to market and sell it.

   1.0 out of 5 starsHospitalization By on September 2, 2016 Color: Random Color Metal|Verified Purchase I took my newly purchased G Star to my friends house to fill it full of butane when you filled it up and pressed it down only a small flame came out when it tried to adjust it the bottom popped off the fuel was instantly ignited and a big Fireball cause first degree burns to the eyes 2nd and 3rd degree burns to the face and hands

   1.0 out of 5 starsNo User Manual By on March 26, 2017 Color: Random Color Metal|Verified Purchase The product arrived without a user manual. It also can’t be found through a quick Google search. It is up to the customer to guess the purpose of the buttons and levers. Also, it is difficult to know whether the butane fuel is getting into the GStar TorchZilla and after a couple of seconds it overflows. Not recommended.

   1.0 out of 5 starsIt burned me pretty bad. By Customer on April 28, 2016 Verified Purchase I used this lighter for about 2 weeks and last night I tried to turn the flame down so that way I could fill it and i lit the torch and it blew up in my hand. It burned me pretty bad.

   1.0 out of 5 starsOne Star By Customer on March 7, 2016 Color: Random Color Metal|Verified Purchase This blew up in my face, got burns man

   Model

   Torchzilla windproof butane

   UPC

   unknown

   Serial number

   unknown

   Bought from

   Gasoline station

   Bought

   Jul 22, 2017, about then

   Where

   Laredo, Texas: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 27, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Child

   As this report names them

   Brand GStar, made or sold by KSX ENTERPRISE, INC.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources