AtHome America Inc., of Alsip, Illinois, has recalled about 6,300 four-wick decorative candles because they may be a fire hazard, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) AtHome America candle recall announcement. The candle’s wicks are in close proximity causing the candle to burn unevenly and faster than expected, posing a potential fire hazard. AtHome America has received one report of melted wax on a table. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

The recall involves four-inch, square-shaped candles with four wicks. The candles were sold in three styles: the Earth Hue Toasted Nutmeg and Spice candle, the Holiday Hue candle, and the Golden Metallic candle. The recalled candles were sold by AtHome America consultants from the 2007 Fall & Holiday Catalog from August 2007 through October 2007 for about $17. The candles were manufactured in Vietnam.

According to the CPSC recall announcement, consumers should stop using the candles immediately and contact their AtHome consultant for a full refund. The company has sent direct notices to sales consultants and candle owners.

PritzkerOlsen, a leading product liability law firm, is providing this information as a public service. Please do not contact our law firm about a case unless it involves serious personal injury. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form (right). The firm has extensive experience with product liability and fire accident cases.

Read the U.S. CPSC recall announcement.

Posted December 2007.

Labels: apartment fire, candle recall, fire injury, fire risk, product liability, upholstered furniture fire

QVC Inc. of West Chester, Pennsylvania, has recalled about 13,000 Cook's Essential electric toasters due to possible fire hazard. The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard. QVC has received reports of five toasters turning on spontaneously, including two incidents of toaster covers burned and one incident of fire damage to a kitchen cabinet. No injuries have been reported.

This QVC toaster recall involves the “Cook’s Essential” chrome two-slice electric toasters model CT200. Each toaster has “Cook’s Essentials” and “Model: CT200” printed on a plate located on the underside of the toaster. The toasters were sold through QVC’s televised shopping programs, Web page, toll-free number, outlet, and employee and Studio stores from May 2000 through May 2003 for between $50 and $60.

Consumers should stop using the toaster immediately, unplug it, and return it to QVC using the prepaid shipping labels that QVC will provide. According to the CPSC recall announcement, consumers who return their toasters will receive a full refund of the purchase price, plus shipping and handling. If you have a recalled QVC/Cook's Essential toaster that has caused property damage and/or personal injury, contact an attorney immediately and do not return the toaster or contact QVC.

PritzkerOlsen, a leading product liability law firm, is providing this information as a public service. Please do not contact our law firm about a case unless it involves serious personal injury. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form (right). The firm has extensive experience with product liability and fire accident cases.

Posted December 2007.

Labels: burn injuries, fire damage, product liability

According to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Collins International Co. has voluntarily recalled about 20,000 oscillating ceramic heaters sold at Menards retail stores due to possible fire hazard. This recall involves 1500 watt oscillating ceramic heaters model EB38005. The heater has a white plastic housing with the name "Heat-Wave" in black on its top. A label on the bottom of the product contains the model and the control number "ETL 3090262."

The heaters can overheat, smoke, or ignite which could pose a fire hazard to consumers. Collins International has received seven reports of the heaters overheating, smoking, or igniting, including four reports of minor property damage to carpets and floors. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled oscillating ceramic heaters were sold at Menards’ stores nationwide from September 2006 through March 2007 for about $25.

According to the CPSC announcement, consumers should immediately stop using the heaters and return them to the nearest Menards’ store for a full refund. However, if there has been product damage or personal injury that may be associated with a recalled oscillating ceramic heater sold at Menard's, you should contact an attorney immediately.

PritzkerOlsen is posting this recall as a public service. The firm is not representing people who have sustained property damage that may be associated with this product. The firm does represent people who have been seriously injured by defective products. To contact PritzkerOlsen regarding a serious personal injury, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online free case consultation form.

Posted December 2007

Labels: apartment fire, fire damage, fire injury, personal injury, product liability lawyer

The U.S. CPSC has announced a General Electric built-in combination wall and microwave oven recall due to possible fire hazard. The recall includes GE combination microwave and conventional built-in wall ovens sold under the following brand names: GE, GE Profile® and Kenmore. The ovens were sold in white, black, bisque and stainless steel. The brand name is printed on the lower left corner on the front of the microwave door. The model and serial numbers can be found inside the microwave oven on the left interior wall. For a list of the model and serial numbers, please click here to see the CPSC recall announcement.

According to the CPSC announcement, GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Kentucky, the manufacturer of the product, voluntarily recalled the product because the door switch in the microwave oven can overheat and ignite plastic components in the control area, posing a fire hazard to consumers. The lower thermal oven does not pose a hazard.

GE is aware of 35 incidents of minor property damage and one incident in which a fire damaged adjacent kitchen cabinets. No injuries have been reported.

The CPSC announcement states that consumers should stop using the microwave oven immediately. Consumers should contact GE regarding their GE/GE Profile micro-oven combo or Sears for their Kenmore unit. GE is offering a free repair or rebate on a new product, a $300 rebate toward the purchase of a new GE brand unit, or a $600 rebate toward the purchase of a new GE Profile brand unit. Sears is offering a free repair or $300 rebate toward the purchase of a new Kenmore brand unit. Consumers can continue using the lower thermal oven.

PritzkerOlsen is posting this recall as a public service. The firm is not representing people who have sustained property damage that may be associated with this product.

Posted December 2007

Labels: burn injuries, product liability lawyer

The CPSC has announced a Black & Decker Toaster Recall due to possible risk of fire. According to the CPSC, consumers should stop using and unplug the recalled Black & Decker toasters.

The toasters recalled are Black & Decker® brand Infrawave™ Toasters. The recalled two-slice toaster is black with stainless steel trim and has a digital display below the toaster lever. The Black & Decker® brand name is on the top of the toaster. Model number ST2000 is printed on the rating plate on the bottom of the toaster.

Hazard: According to the CPSC, an electrical component in the toaster can overheat and ignite the circuit board, posing a fire hazard. Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miramar, Florida, the distributor of the toasters, has received two reports of the toasters igniting, including one report of fire that damaged a kitchen countertop and cabinets. There have been no reported injuries.

The recall involves about 70,000 Black & Decker toasters. The recalled toasters were sold at home improvement and discount department retailers nationwide from March 2007 through November 2007 for about $50.

If there has not been a fire or any smoke damage related to the recalled toasters, consumers should stop using the recalled toaster, unplug it immediately, and contact Applica to receive a refund. Pritzker | Olsen, a leading product liability law firm, recommends contacting a product liability lawyer immediately (and not Applica) if there has been a fire or any smoke damage related to a recalled toaster. PritzkerOlsen is posting this recall as a public service. The firm is not representing people who have sustained property damage that may be associated with this product.

Posted December 2007

Labels: fire risk, product liability lawyer

Along with holiday cheer, the holidays bring a rise in the number of fires. As you are decorating your home for the holidays, please keep these tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Fire Protection Association in mind:

Trees:

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to burning.
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways.
• If you have a real tree, water it regularly.
  
• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
• if you have a real tree, dispose of it after 4 weeks.
  

Lights:

• Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or ETL/ITSNA. Use only newer lights that have thicker wiring and are required to have safety fuses to prevent the wires from overheating.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets.
• If using an extension cord, make sure it is rated for the intended use.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• When using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacles or a portable GFCI.
• Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• Take down holiday lights after 90 days of use to prevent damage from weather conditions and neighborhood animals.

Candles:

• Keep burning candles within sight.
• Keep lighted candles away from items that can catch fire and burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.
• Always use non-flammable holders and keep away from children and pets.
• Don't leave children unattended in a room with lit candles.
  
• Extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room or leave the house.

Fireplaces:

• Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that, if eaten, can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting. Keep them away from children.
• Do not burn wrapping paper or plastic items in the fireplace. These materials can ignite suddenly and burn intensely, resulting in a flash fire.
• Place a screen around your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby flammable materials.

Sources:
1. CPSC Warns: Avoid Hazards Related to Holiday Decorating (press release).
2. National Fire Protection Association, November 2007 press release regarding holiday safety.

Get a free brochure with holiday decorating and toy safety tips at CPSC’s web site www.cpsc.gov (pdf)

See a demonstration showing how flammable a dry Christmas tree can be as opposed to a tree watered regularly. This test was conducted by the National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratories.

Labels: candle recall, fire damage, fire injury, fire prevention, upholstered furniture fire