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Model BP-250 Homelite Gasoline-Powered Backpack Blower

CPSC Recall #97-165 — July 30, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-165
Recall DateJuly 30, 1997
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedOver 80,000
ManufacturerHomelite Inc., of Charlotte, N.C.
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

Authorized Homelite dealers nationwide
including lawn and garden and building supply stores
sold the blowers from October 1994 through December 1996 for about $200.

Product

Model BP-250 Homelite Gasoline-Powered Backpack Blower

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Homelite Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., is announcing a voluntary recall to repair over 80,000 model BP-250 Homelite gasoline-powered backpack blowers. If the blower's fuel lines are routed too closely to the engine cylinder, they can crack and leak fuel, presenting a fire hazard to consumers.Homelite Inc. has received five reports of fuel lines leaking. Two fires and one burn injury resulting in a slightly singed back have been associated with these blowers.The model BP-250 Homelite blower measures 2.5 feet high and 1.5 feet wide and has a 30 cubic centimeter engine. The blower is mostly red with black components and is mounted on a black frame to which shoulder straps are attached. The words, "Homelite BP-250...Made in U.S.A." appear under the blower's red support bar. The blowers involved in this recall have UT numbers UT 08017F or UT 08017G and serial numbers ranging from HP2000001 through HP3659999, HQ0010001 through HQ3659999, and HR0010001 through HR2109999 located on a sticker attached to the fuel tank. Authorized Homelite dealers nationwide, including lawn and garden and building supply stores, sold the blowers from October 1994 through December 1996 for about $200.Consumers should stop using the blowers immediately and take them to the nearest Homelite servicing dealer for repair. For the name of the nearest Homelite servicing dealer or for more information about this recall, consumers should call Homelite Inc. at (800) 242-4672 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.

Hazard

If the blower's fuel lines are routed too closely to the engine cylinder, they can crack and leak fuel, presenting a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Homelite Inc. has received five reports of fuel lines leaking. Two fires and one burn injury resulting in a slightly singed back have been associated with these blowers. 

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the blowers immediately and take them to the nearest Homelite servicing dealer for 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.

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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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