Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

CPSC Recall #06-084 — February 6, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number06-084
Recall DateFebruary 6, 2006
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 50,900
ManufacturerStrike First Corp., of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
ImporterStrike First Corporation of America (SFC America), of Front Royal, Va.
Manufactured InCanada

Where It Was Sold

Fire extinguisher dealers nationwide from December 2002 through April 2004 for between $13 and $21.

Product

Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Strike First Corp., of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and Strike First Corporation of America (SFC America), of Front Royal, Va., are recalling about 50,900 Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers. The fire extinguishers can fail to discharge properly when the trigger is activated, which puts consumers at risk of fire-related injuries.Name of Product: Dry Chemical Fire ExtinguishersUnits: About 50,900Manufacturer: Strike First Corp., of Scarborough, Ontario, CanadaImporter: Strike First Corporation of America (SFC America), of Front Royal, Va.Hazard: The fire extinguishers can fail to discharge properly when the trigger is activated, which puts consumers at risk of fire-related injuries.Incidents/Injuries: SFC America has received three reports of the fire extinguishers failing to discharge properly when activated. No injuries have been reported.Description: The recall includes Strike First 2.5 lb. and 5 lb. dry chemical fire extinguishers with model numbers WBSF-ABC110AP, WBSF-ABC210AP, and WBSF-ABC340AP. The model number is located under the manufacturer's address on the far right hand side of the instruction label. The recalled fire extinguishers have the following serial numbers:Model NumberSerial Number RangeWBSF-ABC110APTC101566 through TC108819WBSF-ABC210APTC114969 through TC135000VV822001 through VV832000WH161001 through WH167622WBSF-ABC340APTC135894 through TC142345The serial number is located on the extinguisher's label, below the "UL" mark. The fire extinguishers are red, and designed for commercial, industrial, multi-residential and vehicle applications.Sold at: Fire extinguisher dealers nationwide from December 2002 through April 2004 for between $13 and $21.Manufactured in: CanadaRemedy: Consumers with fire extinguishers included in the recall should immediately contact SFC America for information on how to arrange to have their extinguishers repaired.Consumer Contact: Call SFC America at (800) 255-5515 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the SFC America Web site at www.strikefirstusa.com.

Hazard

The fire extinguishers can fail to discharge properly when the trigger is activated, which puts consumers at risk of fire-related injuries.

Incidents & Injuries

SFC America has received three reports of the fire extinguishers failing to discharge properly when activated. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers with fire extinguishers included in the recall should immediately contact SFC America for information on how to arrange to have their extinguishers repaired.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.