[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7942-7943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL ARSON AWARENESS WEEK

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize 
National Arson Awareness Week, May 4-10, and its theme for 2008: ``Toy-
like Lighters Playing with Fire.''
  The major goal of National Arson Awareness Week is to promote 
national recognition, awareness and understanding of the arson problem 
in the United States. By creating a new theme each year, the National 
Arson Awareness Week encourages local communities to come together and 
promote a different aspect of arson awareness information. 
Intentionally set fires are a leading cause of fire deaths and a 
frequent cause of financial losses in the United States. The theme for 
this year's Arson Awareness Week, ``Toy-like Lighters--Playing with 
Fire,'' focuses public attention on the dangers of toy-like or novelty 
lighters in the hands of children.
  Novelty lighters are frequently mistaken by children for play toys, 
some complete with visual effects, flashing

[[Page 7943]]

lights and musical sounds. Such cases of mistaken identity often carry 
devastating consequences.
  National Arson Awareness Week greatly benefits communities in 
California and across the Nation, as it highlights awareness of the 
dangers posed by arson-related issues throughout local communities. I 
commend the local fire departments and localities that have worked to 
promote awareness of the dangers posed by toy-like and novelty lighters 
through the National Arson Awareness Week of 2008.

                          ____________________