Product Safety Commission Issues Recall on Pourable Fuel

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by nine U.S. manufacturers. The recall was issued because the liquid fuel can easily ignite and splatter when poured into a still-burning fuel pot.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety – State Fire Marshal Division just yesterday urged citizens to use caution when using the decorative fuel pots due to recent accidents involving the gel fuel. There have been 37 reported accidents nationwide with 23 resulting in injuries. Iowa alone has had four reported cases in the last 30 days.

“These issues occur when people are refilling the fire pots with fuel gel,” said State Fire Marshal Ron Humphrey in a statement issued Aug. 31. “The fire pots burst into flames spraying gelatin fuel all over the person refueling the devices.”

The recall involves more than two million units of pourable gel packaged in one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs. The fuels are sold in scented and unscented varieties and were sold by the following companies:

• 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.

Consumers should contact these companies directly to obtain instructions on how to get a refund and/or return unused product.

The Department of Public Safety urges consumers who own these decorative fuel pots to use them with extreme caution. Their recommendations include:

1) Do not overfill the devices. If you do, wash the ceramic vessel with soap and water before inserting the fuel.

2) Do not reach over the fire pot.

3) Never leave the device unattended or let children play on or around fire pots.

4) Keep a portable fire extinguisher close by when fire pots are in use.

5) Never add fuel to an open flame and be certain the ceramic vessel has cooled before adding fuel.

For more information about the fuel gel recall or decorative fire pots, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.