Portable butane gas stoves

CPSC Recall #01-198 — July 12, 2001

Recall Summary

Recall Number01-198
Recall DateJuly 12, 2001
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 3,500

Where It Was Sold

Boat manufacturers were supplied with these units and sporting goods stores and marine supply stores sold the portable butane stoves separately nationwide from March 2000 through April 2001 for about $70.

Product

Portable butane gas stoves

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kenyon International Inc. of Clinton, Conn., is voluntarily recalling about 3,500 portable butane gas stoves. The unit's safety fuel shut-off system could fail to shut off when the fuel container is overheated. If overheated, the flame from the stove flares up, and cannot be controlled with the adjustment valve, posing a fire hazard.CPSC and Kenyon International Inc. have received one report of the fuel shut-off system failing resulting in two consumers suffering second-degree burns.The portable butane stoves are primarily marketed to the boating industry as optional equipment and are identified as being "EXPRESS" models with model number B23000 or B23001. The model number is found on the front of the stove near the adjustment valve. The metal stoves consist of a single burner unit having a removable butane fuel canister, regulator, primary nozzle and burner. The unit has an electronic ignition, and measures about 7 inches high by 10 inches wide by 12 inches long. The B2300 unit is black, and the B23001 unit is white. The portable stoves are labeled "Made in Korea" and "KENYON EXPRESS."Boat manufacturers were supplied with these units and sporting goods stores and marine supply stores sold the portable butane stoves separately nationwide from March 2000 through April 2001 for about $70.Consumers should stop using the portable butane stoves immediately and return them to Kenyon International Inc. for a free repair. For more information, call Kenyon International Inc. collect at (860) 664-4906 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email the firm at [email protected] or visit their web site at www.kenyonappliances.com.

Hazard

The unit's safety fuel shut-off system could fail to shut off when the fuel container is overheated. If overheated, the flame from the stove flares up, and cannot be controlled with the adjustment valve, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Kenyon International Inc. have received one report of the fuel shut-off system failing resulting in two consumers suffering second-degree burns.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the portable butane stoves immediately and return them to Kenyon International Inc. for a free repair.

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.