By Jim Salmon
Nine Manufacturers, Distributors Announce Consumer Recall of Pourable Gel Fuel Due to Burn and Flash Fire Hazards WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with nine manufacturers and distributors, is announcing a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by these companies. Due to the serious risks of flash fire and burns when consumers add pourable gel to an already burning fire pot, consumers should immediately stop using the pourable gel fuel.
The recall involves an estimated 2 million units of various pourable gel fuels packaged in one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs and sold in scented and non-scented formulations, which were sold since 2008 for between $5 and $20 by the companies listed below
Consumers can contact these firms to obtain instructions for a refund of the product and for returning unused bottles and jugs:
Bird Brain Inc., of Ypsilanti, Mich. Bond Manufacturing of Antioch, Calif. Sunjel Company (2 Burn Inc.) of Milwaukee Fuel Barons Inc. of Lake Tahoe, Nev. Lamplight Farms Inc of Menomonee Falls, Wis. Luminosities Inc (Windflame) of St. Paul, Minn. Pacific Décor Ltd. of Woodinwille, Wash. Real Flame of Racine, Wis. Smart Solar Inc. of Oldsmar, Fla. The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. CPSC is aware of 65 incidents resulting in two deaths and 34 victims who were hospitalized with second and third degree burns of the face, chest, hands, arms or legs.
Of the 65 incidents, 28 of them, including 37 burn injuries and two fatalities, occurred with fuel gel products made by Napa Home & Garden, which conducted a recall of its products in June 2011, in cooperation with CPSC. Also in June, CPSC issued a press statement alerting consumers to the hazards of pourable gel fuels. All pourable gel fuel, regardless of manufacturer, poses flash fire hazards.
Consumers should not attempt to use or fix pourable gel fuel bottles with homemade remedies, or replace the fuel with other flammable materials.
Retailers should stop sale of existing inventory and immediately remove all stock of pourable gel fuel from shelves. Some firms are working on a design for caps that may prevent flash fire hazards.