Another good reason not to smoke. A TOKIO disposable lighter exploded in my car yesterday.
I bought an el-cheapo disposable lighter last Monday, I can't remember which shopette I was in when I bought it. Yesterday morning (Thursday) the flint shot out of it when I tried to use it. I was driving to work, so I tossed it on the passenger seat and forgot about it. I got in the car after work and headed home. As usual, I had to stop and pick up some stuff at the grocery store. I took a cigarette out just before I turned on the road to the store and lit up using the car's lighter. I had my grocery list in my shirt pocket, so I dropped the pack of smokes on the seat. When I parked I pulled out the list and reached for the cigarettes to return them to my pocket and noticed all these shards of green plastic on the seat. Now that I was parked, I could really look around, and I noticed a few pieces on the dash board, on the console between the front seats, and some on the passenger arm rest. Then I saw the jagged top of the lighter wedged into the fold of the front passenger seat. I know the lighter had been facing silver top facing the front of the car when I got out of the car, because I almost picked up but remembered it was useless. However, no the silver end was well into the fold where the top of the seat meets the bottom, so it must have ricocheted off the front of the glove compartment. The thing had exploded while I was at work. This is October and even in Louisiana it doesn't get that hot in October. I've left lighters in my car all year round for years and never had one explode. It seems to have been a pressure only event, with no fire, or, at least no signs of fire. The brand name is TOKIO, and the O's have three vertical lines instead of holes. I have tried to find out who this company is off and on all day without any sucess. Do not purchase this brand (TOKIO), and if you have one to get rid of it. Had the lighter been in my hand or shirt pocket instead of an empty car that could have been ugly. Judging by the dispersal pattern in the car it went off with sufficient force to have driven the very sharp shards well into flesh at close range. If any of you spot one of these lighters in a store could you jot down the address or phone number for me? I want to contact the company and let them know about this batch before some kid loses an eye while watching dad light the fire place. Warmest Regards, Doug Riddle http://www.dougriddle.com "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." - Ambrose Bierce
