Zippo Candlelighter multi-purpose lighters, fuel

1 report to CPSC, the latest made Jan 2, 2017. A report isn’t a recall.

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At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

1report to CPSC
Jan 2, 2017the latest report was made
Jan 2, 2017the earliest
1with the company’s comments

Brand: Zippo Candlelighter
Maker: ZIPPO MANUFACTURING CO.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product: Multi-purpose lighters, fuelIncluding micro-torchesCPSC’s product type: Fuel Multi-purpose Lighters, Incl. Micro-torches (code 1688), in Fuel, Lighters and Fireworks: Lighters & Matches

By month

1 report from February 2016 to January 2017; the most in January 2017, 1.

The numbers, as a table

Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
Month	Reports
January 2017	1

How badly anyone was hurt

Emergency room 1 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

Emergency room
Made Jan 2, 2017, sent to the company Jan 12, 2017, published by CPSC Jan 30, 2017

The product, in the report: Chrome Zippo Candlelighter - six and a half inches in length. The only marking on the lighter is ‘MF-11’ which is located on the round black knob at the base of the lighter.

This is regarding the refill my six and a half inch Zippo Chrome Candle Lighter with butane. The candlelighter was completely out of butane and in need of a full refill. I have owned it for a few years without incident. On the morning of December 26, 2016, (8:30 am), I stood over the kitchen sink with a flat wooden board at the bottom of the sink, covering the entire drain area---and proceeded to refill the candle lighter with butane. This is something I have done many times over the years without any issues. The lighter was refilling without any problems for the first ninety seconds, and was not yet refilled. Then all of a sudden out of the blue, a huge 8 foot flame burst out. How it occurred I do not know. I did not have my hand (or fingers) near the igniter and am 100 % certain that I did not ignite the lighter. There was nothing on or functioning in the kitchen except the main overhead light so the flame could not be explained by a microwave or [REDACTED] functioning. As a result of this unexpected ignition, I received first and second degree burns which required immediate emergency room care, and then treatment at the St. Barnabas Burn Center.. I have blisters and may have permanent scarring all up and down my lower left arm. I also have to continue to follow up with treatment at the Burn Center. I have to apply Burn cream 2-3x daily and change the bandages often, not getting it wet in the shower. Thus having to purchase a plastic arm protector to prevent it from getting wet. I was told by the Emergency Room staff that I was very lucky. Had I not been dressed wearing only my eyeglasses, t-shirt and shorts, the outcome may have been much more severe. Had I not turned my body and pivoted, my face would definitely have been burned. All the hair on my left arm was burned off, and the hair on the left side of my head was badly cinged. Fortunately, there was no damage to my apartment and minimal damage to the immediate area where this occurred. This was a very frightening experience. I did contact Zippo Customer Service via email on December 26, 2016. I never heard anything so I called Zippo Customer Care on December 27, 2016. I asked to speak with a Manager and was told she was out until after the new year, but she would get back to me---and that my complaint had been received via email. The Customer Service Representative I spoke with did not seem to take my issue very seriously, which really disgusted me. In any case, I never received any information at any time regarding a product recall for this Zippo Candlelighter. I want your agency to follow up and make sure this does not happen to anyone else.

Model
MF-11
UPC
Unknown
Serial number
MF-11
Bought from
Yankee Candle Store
Bought
Sep 6, 2008, about then
Where
Nutley, New Jersey: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 46, Male
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand Zippo Candlelighter, made or sold by ZIPPO MANUFACTURING CO.
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

The company’s comments, in its own words

(3/7/2017) ZIPPO MANUFACTURING CO.: Zippo Manufacturing Company (“Zippo”) hereby submits this manufacturer’s comment (“Comment”) pursuant to 16 CFR § 1102.12. Zippo verifies that (1) it has reviewed the Report and the Comment; and (2) the information contained in this Comment is true and accurate to the best of the Zippo’s knowledge, information, and belief. Zippo requests that the CPSC publish this Comment in the CPSC database (“Database”) along with the Report, and consents to such publication in the Database.
The Report contains numerous inconsistencies and technical impossibilities.
First, the Report includes the statement: “The lighter was refilling without any problems for the first ninety seconds, and was not yet refilled.” Please note that in accordance with filling instructions (which were included with the Zippo candle light, or “Product”) (“Instructions”), the butane fuel nozzle should be inserted into the filling valve of the Product, and depressed several times with firm, even pressure for “several seconds.” This process should only last less than ten (10) seconds before the Product is completely filled. The Instructions clearly state “Do not overfill.” If the consumer dispensed butane for a longer period of time than what is required to fill the Product (in this case, much longer), and he believes the Product was still not filled, then the butane fuel may have been dispensed not into the Product but into the surrounding environment. In this case, assuming the Product was indeed filled over the sink, because butane fuel is heavier than air, the butane fuel would have collected in the sink vessel and may have possibly spilled out over the sink vessel. Please note that the butane fuel would have been in the gaseous state at atmospheric pressure and thus invisible to the consumer.
Second, the Report includes the inconsistent statements: “Then all of a sudden out of the blue, a huge 8 foot flame burst out” and then “I did not have my hand (or fingers) near the igniter and am 100% certain that I did not ignite the lighter. There was nothing on or functioning in the kitchen except the main overhead light so the flame could not be explained by a microwave or [REDACTED] functioning.” It is impossible for the Product to self-ignite; the Product cannot generate a flame on its own, as discussed in more detail below. Thus, either (1) the Report is inaccurate and there was no flame, or (2) the Report is inaccurate and there was a flame but also there was some ignition source(s).
More specifically, if there was any type of flame at all as the Report alleges, some external ignition source(s) must have been present (whether it may have been a cigarette, a spark from a nearby appliance, etc.), or the user must have interacted with the Product. Any interaction with the Product at this point would have been contrary to the Instructions, which state “Do not refill near flame, heat source or sparks. Use only in well ventilated area” and “Wait at least two minutes after refueling before using.”
Indeed, if the consumer had dispensed butane gas into the sink vessel, and if there was an ignition source, then such ignition could have caused the butane gas in the sink vessel to also ignite and generate a flame. We note that the consumer claimed to have a flat wooden board covering the bottom of the sink, and so any drop of the lighter onto the board could not have generated a spark and thus could not have been an ignition source. If there was no ignition source as the consumer alleges, there is no plausible explanation as to how the flame generated.
Third, the Report includes the statement “a huge 8 foot flame burst out.” A large flame could only be possible if the consumer has dispensed large quantities of butane fuel, or some other fuel, into the environment, contrary to the Instructions noted above.
Please note that Zippo has been in direct contact with the consumer involved in this alleged incident in order to obtain additional information. Zippo has also requested that the Product be sent to Zippo for an inspection and evaluation in order to determine the status of the Product’s current condition and function.
Fourth, in connection with that direct contact that Zippo has had with the consumer, the consumer separately reported to Zippo that the butane fuel that was used to fill the Product was Ronson brand butane fuel (although this detail is not contained in the Report). The Ronson butane fuel contains the following warning: “Do not refuel in kitchen near sink or pilot light,” along with filling instructions similar to those contained in the Instructions. Thus, the fact that the consumer filled the Product over the sink was not in compliance with manufacturer instructions in that regard as well.
Put simply, because it is impossible for the Product to spontaneously self-ignite, the incidents alleged in the Report are highly implausible.

CPSC report 20170102-589A0-2147408631. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Zippo Candlelighter multi-purpose lighters, fuel

At a glance

By month

How badly anyone was hurt

The reports, as CPSC published them

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources

How to read a record

Every fact names its source.

A number never stands alone.

What needs attention is marked.

The public record comes first.