NFPA and CPSC warn consumers to immediately stop using pourable gel fuel
Published: 13 September, 2011
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with nine manufacturers and distributors, announced a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by these companies.
NFPA issued a warning in August urging the public to use extreme caution when using gel fuel, a product typically used with fire pots, personal fireplaces, and some patio torches. In light of the recall, NFPA recommends that consumers immediately stop using pourable gel fuel and contact the manufacturers for refund and product return information.
As the video below demonstrates, stop, drop and roll may not extinguish clothing that catches fire involving splattered or spilled gel fuel. A dry chemical extinguisher or baking soda is recommended to extinguish the fire.
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 the companies listed below.
Consumers can contact these firms to obtain instructions for a refund of the product and for returning unused bottles and jugs:
Bird Brain Inc., of Ypsilanti, Mich.
Bond Manufacturing of Antioch, Calif.
Sunjel Company (2 Burn Inc.) of Milwaukee
Fuel Barons Inc. of Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Lamplight Farms Inc of Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Luminosities Inc (Windflame) of St. Paul, Minn.
Pacific Décor Ltd. of Woodinwille, Wash.
Real Flame of Racine, Wis.
Smart Solar Inc. of Oldsmar, Fla.
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, including 37 burn injuries and two fatalities, occurred with fuel gel products made by Napa Home & Garden, which conducted a recall of its products in June 2011, in cooperation with CPSC. Also in June, CPSC issued a press statement alerting consumers to the hazards of pourable gel fuels. All pourable gel fuel, regardless of manufacturer, poses flash fire hazards.
Consumers should not attempt to use or fix pourable gel fuel bottles with homemade remedies, or replace the fuel with other flammable materials.
