Vancouver may ban the sale of some butane lighters. Here's why that's being proposed.
Vancouver council is set to vote on banning the sale of butane lighters that firefighters say are contributing to a "surge" of blazes causing injuries, death and damage in the city.
A staff report proposes a bylaw prohibiting the sale of "continuous flame butane lighters," which are defined as "a device that produces a flame, is fueled by butane, and does not require the ongoing intervention of the user to produce a continuous flame." Businesses found violating the bylaw would be fined $1,000.
"The serious public safety risks associated with the use of these devices in residential settings warrants consideration of a direct response by the City of Vancouver pending any national measures," the report says.
"Prohibiting the sale of continuous flame butane lighters by retailers located within Vancouver would be a measured, proactive step and begin to respond to the increased fire risk associated with these devices."
A report provided by Vancouver Fire Rescue Services says while it is impossible to measure the actual number of fires caused by these devices, they do have data showing how many fires there have been since the beginning of 2023 where "probable cause of the fire was found to support the use of an open flame or smoking material in a general sense."
There have been 3,128 fires in total, 79 people injured, and six people killed, the department says. In addition, 397 people have been displaced and an estimated $16,785,636 of property damage has been caused.
"It is clear that torch-style lighters play a major role in the contribution to fire loss and injury in the City of Vancouver," the report from VFRS concludes.
But the report also looks at why these fires are likely to be increasing as well as who is at risk – and suggests that banning the sale of these lighters is not the only move the city can or should make.
Smoking is now the most common way that people in the province consume drugs, according to data from the BC Coroners Service.
"The continuous flame butane lighter is a common tool used by people who regularly smoke opioids or stimulants," the report notes.
But harm reduction services like safe consumption sites and overdose prevention sites are set up to facilitate the injection of drugs, not smoking or inhalation.
"Providing alternative spaces for people to use for smoking and promoting safe spaces to use butane lighters could further reduce fire safety risks associated with smoker materials," the report says, summarizing some community feedback.
"It was also highlighted that the availability of harm reduction supplies for safer smoking may also address fire safety issues."
The risk of fires caused by smoking materials is particularly high in SROs, where structure fires in general, according to VFRS, are 67 times more likely than in other residences.
A letter from the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users argues that the measure being proposed by city staff won't make SROs safer and won't in and of itself do much of anything to protect vulnerable people from fires causing serious injury, death or displacement.
"VANDU does not support banning the lighters as a solution," it reads.
Council is scheduled to vote on the report on May 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
'More aggressive': Tocchet shifts lineups as Canucks get ready to take on Oilers in Vancouver
As the Canucks prepare to take on the Oilers for Game 5, Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet is making changes to the team's lineup.
Police issue Canada-wide warrant for Regina homicide suspect
Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man wanted in a homicide which occurred in Regina on May 12.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.