Blaze started by toddler playing with lighter

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Firefighters have compared leaving lighters near children to "giving them a loaded gun" after a blaze started by a toddler left an Opotoki man with severe burns on the weekend.

The 34-year-old man suffered serious burns to his arms in a fire at an Opotiki property on Saturday morning.

It was started by a three-year-old boy playing with a lighter, firefighters said.

Fire Service national investigations manager Peter Wilding said the blaze was the latest in a series of serious fires started by children under five years old.

Children were also behind fires that gutted homes in Timaru, Tokoroa and Wairaki over the last three months, he said.

He urged adults to put matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

"Leaving lighters or matches within reach of kids is like giving them a loaded gun.

"Some children treat lighters and matches as toys and are fascinated by the sparks and flame. No lighter is completely child-safe. The only way to protect your children, your families and your homes safe from these fires is to keep lighters out of reach of young ones."

Mr Wilding said some shops were selling lighters that did not live up to child safety standards put in place by the Fire Service.

He was working with Consumer Affairs on the issue would be taking his concerns up with importers.