Two million gel fuel units recalled

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 9/7/2011 9:30:17 AM

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with nine manufacturers and distributors, is announcing a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by these companies.

The recall involves an estimated 2 million units of various pourable gel fuels packaged in one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs and sold in scented and non-scented formulations, which were sold since 2008 for between $5 and $20 by Bird Brain Inc., Bond Manufacturing, Sunjel Company (2 Burn Inc.), Fuel Barons Inc., Lamplight Farms Inc., Luminosities Inc (Windflame), Pacific Decor Ltd., Real Flame and Smart Solar USA.

The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. CPSC is aware of 65 incidents resulting in two deaths and 34 victims who were hospitalized with second and third degree burns of the face, chest, hands, arms or legs. (Of the 65 incidents, 28 of them occurred with fuel gel products made by Napa Home & Garden, which conducted a recall of its products in June, in cooperation with CPSC.)

Retailers should stop the sale of existing inventory and immediately remove all stock of pourable gel fuel from shelves. Some firms are working on a design for caps that may prevent flash fire hazards. Consumers can contact these firms to obtain instructions for a refund and for returning unused bottles and jugs.