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"Char- Broil" brand charcoal water smokers

CPSC Recall #94-127 - September 14, 1994

Recall Summary

Recall Number94-127
Recall DateSeptember 14, 1994
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedApproximately 80,000

Product

"Char- Broil" brand charcoal water smokers

Description

Washington, D.C. - CPSC, Char-Broil, of Columbus, Ga., announced today a program to give the owners of "Char- Broil" brand charcoal water smokers a kit to close a hole in the charcoal pan to reduce a fire risk. Approximately 80,000 Char-Broil brand charcoal water smokers sold since March 1993 have a hole in the exposed charcoal pan that can cause a fire if used over a flammable surface like a wooden deck. Using the smoker over a flammable surface is contrary to current warnings and instructions included with the Char-Broil smokers. According to Char-Broil, charcoal water smokers typically have a charcoal pan with a hole in it, a water pan in the middle of the unit, and grills for food above the water pan and at the top. CPSC is investigating other brands of charcoal water smokers that may present a similar risk of fire. CPSC views all charcoal water smokers, which have exposed charcoal pans with holes that may allow coals to fall out, as a potential fire risk. CPSC, which is seeking corrective actions against other companies, will announce these actions at the earliest possible time. Although Char-Broil has not received any reports of fires with its smokers to date, the company is participating in this program to help prevent the possibility of fires. The recalled smokers were sold nationwide in mass market retail stores for $29 to $39 each. They are red or black and are labeled "Char-Broil H2O Smoker" on the body of the smoker. Only smokers that have a hole in the exposed charcoal pan are involved in this recall. Call Char-Broil at (800) 241-8981 for a free kit to close the hole in the pan. To help reduce the risk of fire even after the hole is closed, do not operate the charcoal water smoker on or near flammable surfaces.

Hazard

The Char-Broil brand charcoal water smokers sold since March 1993 have a hole in the exposed charcoal pan that can cause a fire if used over a flammable surface like a wooden deck. 

Incidents & Injuries

Char-Broil has not received any reports of fires with its smokers to date.

Remedy Instructions

Call Char-Broil at (800) 241-8981 for a free kit to close the hole in the pan. To help reduce the risk of fire even after the hole is closed, do not operate the charcoal water smoker on or near flammable surfaces.

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.

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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 (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.

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