Government Recalls 40 Million Kidde Fire Extinguishers
A Kidde extinguisher may have played a role in a 2014 death after it failed to discharge for emergency personnel responding to a fiery car crash.
The recall includes 134 models in the U.S. and Canada made from 1973 through August 15, 2017.
The federal government has announced a recall on over 40 million Kidde fire extinguishers, some of which have been on the market for more than four decades.
The massive recall covers 134 models in the U.S. and Canada manufactured from 1973 through August 15, 2017. It includes models which had been previously recalled in March 2009 and February 2015.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the extinguishers can become clogged and fail to spray when needed or the nozzle can come off with enough force “to pose an impact hazard”.
The CPSC says there have been 391 reports of extinguishers clogging or the nozzles coming off, resulting in 16 injuries such as smoke inhalation and minor burns. There have also been 91 reports of property damage linked to the extinguishers.
A Kidde extinguisher may have also played a role in the 2014 death of a man involved in a fiery car crash. The victim, 22-year-old Brendan Rosko, crashed into a tree, causing his car to burst into flames. Emergency responders tried to use the extinguishers to put out the fire but they did not work.
Kidde, based in Mebane, N.C., says it is working closely with the government to begin the recall and to make sure all are replaced with different models as soon as possible, reports the Chicago Tribune.
The recalled extinguishers are red, white and silver and either ABC or BC rated. They were sold at Menards, Montgomery Ward, Sears, Home Depot, Walmart and other home and hardware stores. They were also sold online, including on Amazon.com and ShopKidde.com. Some were sold to use in commercial trucks, recreational vehicles and boats, says the CPSC.
Owners are asked to contact Kidde for a free replacement and to learn how to return recalled models. No proof of purchase is required, but consumers will need to supply serial numbers and some other identifying information. The company can be reached at (855) 271-0773 or at www.kidde.com.
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Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
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