WalMart Recalls Heaters Due To Possible Fire Hazard
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: December 16, 2010
Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze & Comfort Essentials Heaters
Units: About 2.2 million
Importer: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Arkansas
Hazard: The heaters can malfunction resulting in overheating, smoking, burning, melting and fire.
Incidents/Injuries: Wal-Mart has received 21 reports of incidents, which included 11 reports of property damage beyond the heater. Injuries were reported in four incidents, three of which required medical attention for minor burns and smoke inhalation. The remaining incidents included smoke irritation, sparking or property damage beyond the heater.
Description: This recall involves Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze and Comfort Essentials 1500 watt heaters. The heaters are grey with a metal handle on the top with vents and grey control knobs on the front. The model number is 1013 and can be found on a label on the lower left corner of the back panel of the heater.
Sold Exclusively at: Walmart stores nationwide from December 2001 through October 2009 for about $18.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heater and return the product to any Walmart store for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Wal-Mart toll-free at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.walmart.com
CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of
serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products
under the agency's jurisdiction.
The
CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products
that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard.
The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as
toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals -
contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and
injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
