In a lighter, fuel is stored in a fuel reservoir. The lighter includes a burner member for burning the fuel, a file wheel provided with side wheels and a flint which is caused to strike the file wheel from below. A support post supports the rotary shaft of the file wheel, and a cap opens and closes the tip of the burner member. The cap is supported for rotation on a support shaft at its end remote from the file wheel, is urged toward its opening position by a spring and is provided on its end near to the file wheel with a stopper portion which is adapted to be engaged with the rotary shaft of the file wheel. The rotary shaft is mounted on the support post to be movable between its locking position where it is engaged with the stopper member to keep the cap in the closed position and its releasing position where it is disengaged from the stopper portion to permit the cap to be opened under the force of the spring so that the rotary shaft is moved to the locking position when the cap is closed and the stopper portion is brought into abutment against the rotary shaft and to the releasing position when the side wheels are operated to ignite the fuel on the burner member.