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"Firestopper" fire extinguishers

CPSC Recall #00-111 — May 17, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-111
Recall DateMay 17, 2000
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 26,000
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

Dollar-type discount stores
including Only Deals and Bargain Wholesale
and wholesalers sold these fire extinguishers nationwide from January 1999 through February 2000 for between $.99 and $4.

Product

"Firestopper" fire extinguishers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 99 Cents Only Store, in City of Commerce, Calif., is voluntarily recalling 26,000 "Firestopper" fire extinguishers. Because of the high-pressure contents of these fire extinguishers, they can explode and expose consumers to flying debris, causing puncture wounds and blast injuries. CPSC and the firm have received five reports of the fire extinguisher exploding in consumers' homes. One consumer was hit by flying debris, but was not injured. The explosions have resulted in property damage. The fire extinguisher is yellow with a black top and a red spout. "FIRESTOPPER" is written on the side of the extinguisher in orange. The "I" in the name is written to resemble a flame. Other writing on the unit includes "ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE," "NON-TOXIC," "The Portable Liquid Fire Extinguisher," and "MADE IN THE USA." The extinguisher is about 10 inches high, and the net weight is 12 ounces. The product was originally marketed by Bombay Productions Inc. in California. Dollar-type discount stores, including Only Deals and Bargain Wholesale, and wholesalers sold these fire extinguishers nationwide from January 1999 through February 2000 for between $.99 and $4. Consumers should discharge these fire extinguishers into a plastic garbage bag or similar container outside, in an open area. Consumers can return the discharged units to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call 99 Cents Only Stores at (888) 289-3325 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Hazard

Because of the high-pressure contents of these fire extinguishers, they can explode and expose consumers to flying debris, causing puncture wounds and blast injuries.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and the firm have received five reports of the fire extinguisher exploding in consumers' homes. One consumer was hit by flying debris, but was not injured. The explosions have resulted in property damage.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should discharge these fire extinguishers into a plastic garbage bag or similar container outside, in an open area. Consumers can return the discharged units to the store where purchased for a refund.

What Should You Do?

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

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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 (Refund) 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.

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