Fire Extinguishers
CPSC Recall #91-080 — May 29, 1991
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 91-080 |
| Recall Date | May 29, 1991 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 84,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| The fire extinguishers were sold nationwide in retail stores for approximately $9 to $15 each |
| or were installed by contractors and manufacturers in buildings |
| boats |
| or mobile homes. |
Product
Fire Extinguishers
Description
WASHINGTON, DC -- Two models of American LaFrance fire extinguishers and one model of BECO fire extinguishers, which were manufactured from May 1985 through December 1985, are being recalled by Badger-Powhatan of Charlottesville, VA in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The plastic valve and nozzle assembly of the three models of fire extinguishers could blow off with enough force to cause serious injury, due to a defect in the threads connecting the nozzle assembly to the red cannister. Badger-Powhatan has received reports of 100 explosion incidents. While there have been only three injuries reported by the manufacturer, there have been several incidents in which the nozzle assembly blew off with sufficient force to imbed it in a wall or ceiling. Approximately 84,000 American LaFrance and BECO fire extinguishers, models P-250MA and P-275RA, are being recalled. The model numbers and serial numbers of these recalled extinguishers are printed on the cannister label and include the following: American LaFrance Serial Numbers Model P-250MA FS024000 through FS087500 FZ650001 through FZ656500 Model P-275RA FS834501 through FS836000 FZ638001 through FZ647500 BECO Model P-250MA FM947501 through FM949500 FZ780001 through FZ781500 The fire extinguishers were sold nationwide in retail stores for approximately $9 to $15 each, or were installed by contractors and manufacturers in buildings, boats, or mobile homes. Badger-Powhatan advises its customers to check all American LaFrance and BECO fire extinguishers for the model numbers and serial numbers identified above. Consumers are cautioned to handle the fire extinguisher carefully with the nozzle assembly pointing to the ground and return it to the nearest authorized American LaFrance or BECO distributor. For the location of the nearest distributor, consumers may call Badger-Powhatan at 1-800-922-3499 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). A free replacement fire extinguisher will be given to consumers by the American LaFrance or BECO distributor in exchange for any recalled extinguishers. CPSC learned of the fire extinguisher problem from Georgia Fire Department personnel, who reported five explosion incidents involving the defective models. The CPSC is announcing this recall program as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for product safety. Some 15,000 different kinds of consumer products fall within the Commission's jurisdiction and each year these products are involved in an estimated 29 million injuries and 22,000 deaths.
Hazard
The plastic valve and nozzle assembly of the three models of fire extinguishers could blow off with enough force to cause serious injury, due to a defect in the threads connecting the nozzle assembly to the red cannister.
Incidents & Injuries
Badger-Powhatan has received reports of 100 explosion incidents. While there have been only three injuries reported by the manufacturer, there have been several incidents in which the nozzle assembly blew off with sufficient force to imbed it in a wall or ceiling.
Remedy Instructions
A free replacement fire extinguisher will be given to consumers by the American LaFrance or BECO distributor in exchange for any recalled extinguishers.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.