The lighter is an ignition device. The lighter includes a housing structure, a fuel system, and an ignition circuit. The housing contains the fuel system and the ignition circuit. The fuel system provides the ignition circuit with a supply of a hydrocarbon based fuel. The ignition system provides the fuel with a source of plasma that is used to initiate a combustion reaction that converts the fuel into a flame. The ignition system continuously provides the plasma to the fuel to ensure that the flame is continuously sustained.