If you are planning to use a firepot as part of your weekend holiday decorations, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants to warn you about the potential for hazards. Nine companies are recalling about two million bottles of gel fuel used in firepots after several dozen people were burned. A hazard is present when the user can’t see whether or not the fire is out. Another problem is that unlike using water to put out a fire, gel does not respond to a dousing with water to extinguish the flame. The alcohol-based gels can be put out with a dry powder extinguisher.
The Los Angeles Times names the companies that have agreed to the recall as: Bird Brain Inc. of Ypsilanti, Mich.; Bond Manufacturing of Antioch, Calif.; Sunjel Company of Milwaukee; Fuel Barons Inc. of Lake Tahoe, Nev.; Lamplight Farms Inc. of Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Luminosities Inc. of St. Paul, Minn.; Pacific Decor Ltd. of Woodinville, Wash.; Real Flame of Racine, Wis.; Smart Solar USA of Oldsmar, Fla.
Another company, the Marshall Group of Elkhart, Ind., was not included in the voluntary recall even though it makes gel fuel as well.
Consumers are urged to refrain from using the pourable gel fuel and to contact the manufacturer for a refund.
By the way, the Times reminds us that the old “stop, drop, and roll” approach to putting out a fire does not work with gel fuel. In June, the safety agency issued a flash fire hazard warning of gel fuels.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-firepot-recall-20110901,0,7099727.story
