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A new recall of fire extinguishers is raising questions about safety in the US and elsewhere, and some are wondering if the product is the culprit.
The recall affects 1.2 million models of fire-suppression extinguishers sold in the United States and Canada between the years 2008 and 2013, according to a statement from the company.
Fire extinguishers are commonly used in the homes of firefighters and other emergency responders.
Fire-suppressor brands vary widely in quality and effectiveness, but manufacturers typically make them for homes that need to operate in a confined space, such as an apartment building or a military base.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said Wednesday that a recall involving more than half a million fire extinguishing products was launched because of a potential safety defect.
The CPSC said the company, Fire-Suppressor Inc., is working to identify a defect in the fire extinguiser manufacturing process that could potentially cause fires or explosions.
“We are concerned that a defect could lead to a fire or explosion that could occur if the extinguisher is used in a location where the extinguishers have not been properly designed and manufactured,” the CPSC statement said.
The CPSC added that the company should “ensure all product samples are handled and stored properly and that extinguishers in use at the time of the recall are tested for any potential defect.”
The CPSS said that while there were no injuries and that there was no risk to the public, the product recall involved more than 4.5 percent of the total Fire-suppressing-equipment sales volume.
It said that it did not provide a cost for the recall, which was launched at the request of the manufacturer.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Fire- Suppressor company was founded in 1976 and has been the primary manufacturer of fire fighting and fire suppression products in the U. S.
The maker of fire suppressors and extinguishers, Fire Suppressor Inc. has recalled about 3.5m fire extinguishments in the past five years, according a company statement.
In addition to the fire-fighting product recalls, the company has recalled more than 3.3 million fire-protection products in an effort to address safety concerns and address the impact of the fires in Colorado, according the statement.
