‘As dangerous as a gun’; St. George apartment fire prompts crackdown on illegal novelty lighters

ST. GEORGE, La. (WAFB) — An apartment fire last month prompted officials to crack down on illegal novelty lighters after a young child got a hold of one and accidentally sparked the fire.

Firefighters in St. George responded to the fire in the 8000 block of Ned Avenue on May 13, 2026. Investigators say a 2-year-old found a novelty lighter and accidentally started the fire, ultimately displacing eight people who lived in the building.

No injuries were reported, and no arrests were made…

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