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Christmas windmills with candles

CPSC Recall #98-152 — August 18, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-152
Recall DateAugust 18, 1998
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 19,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Boscov's stores in Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Maryland
Delaware and New York sold the windmill decorations between September 1996 and July 1998. The windmills were a promotional item sold for about $3 with a $10 purchase.

Product

Christmas windmills with candles

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Boscov's Department Store Inc., of Reading, Pa., is recalling approximately 19,000 Christmas windmills with candles. The candles are too close to the wooden structure of the windmill, and can cause the product to catch on fire.Boscov's stores report one incident where the windmill caught on fire. No injuries were reported.The windmill decoration is an "A" framed windmill building structure with a nativity scene on a turntable. It is pine, with a green roof and red trim. The fans of the windmill are printed with red stars. Candles are positioned in the four corners, which when lit, are designed to generate heat to turn the fan. The decoration comes in a mostly red box with a photo of the decoration on the front and back. The box includes the words, "14" H Pine Wooden Windmill. . . MADE IN CHINA."Boscov's stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and New York sold the windmill decorations between September 1996 and July 1998. The windmills were a promotional item sold for about $3 with a $10 purchase.Consumers should stop using this product immediately, and return it to any Boscov's store for a refund. For more information, contact Boscov's at (610) 370-3912 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday, or write to Boscov's, 4500 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, PA 19606.

Hazard

The candles are too close to the wooden structure of the windmill, and can cause the product to catch on fire.

Incidents & Injuries

Boscov's stores report one incident where the windmill caught on fire. No injuries were reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using this product immediately, and return it to any Boscov's store 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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