Today the Consumer Products Safety Commission announced a massive recall of 37.8 million Kidde fire extinguishers in the United States. The safety related issues are the plastic handles and nozzles that can break, become clogged, or require excessive force to discharge, and they may fail to activate during a fire emergency. In addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard. About 2.7 million of the extinguishers were also sold in Canada.
The recall applies to some Kidde models manufactured during the last 43 years.
The CPSC points to the death of a person in 2014 who died after his car crashed and burned. Police attempted to use two of the suspect extinguishers, but both failed.
The CPSC website has a list of the models that are affected. Consumers having one of the extinguishers should immediately contact Kidde to request a free replacement and for instructions on returning the recalled unit, as it may not work properly when needed during an emergency.
Someone spending time trying to get a defective extinguisher to work would be much better off escaping from the fire.
The STIHL MS 461 chainsaw, often used by wildland firefighters, is one of four models being recalled.
Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of 100,000 STIHL chainsaws that are at risk of fire and burn hazards. The saws being recalled are:
MS 461
MS 461 R
MS 461 R Rescue
GS 461 Rock Boss.
The first three are used by firefighters. The last two were not included in STIHL’s official recall notice but a company representative we talked to at the STIHL recall office confirmed they are also on the list.
STIHL Inc. has received 117 reports of pinched or leaking fuel lines but the company reports they are unaware of any damage or injuries caused by the possible defect.
Recalled chainsaws have a serial number between 173092800 and 181993952 under the front hand guard on the engine housing’s sprocket side. The models affected were sold for approximately $1,000 from July 2012 through December 2016.
The recommendation is that owners of the saws immediately stop using them and take them to an authorized STIHL dealer for a free inspection and repair.
STIHL MS 461 R has the added wrap-around handle.The MS 461 R Rescue has a tool holder, extra large wrap-around handle, chip deflector, and can have an optional depth limiter. It is often used by structural firefighters, according to STIHL, “to access trouble spots, provide additional ventilation, or assist with Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) operations”.The GS 461 Rock Boss is for cutting concrete.
(After calling and talking with the STIHL recall office, the article was updated at 1:09 p.m. MST February 24, 2017 to include two other models of chainsaws that were recalled but not included in the official notice from Stihl and the CPSC. Those two additional saws are the MS 461 R Rescue and the GS 461 Rock Boss concrete saw)
