Edhat Staff
By Edhat Staff
Fire extinguishers with plastic handles by the manufacturer Kidde have been recalled due to a failure to discharge and nozzle detachment. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports 37.8 million fire extinguishers might not work during an emergency.
The recall involves 134 models of Kidde fire extinguishers manufactured between January 1, 1973 and August 15, 2017,
Kidde reports the fire extinguishers with plastic handles can become clogged or require excessive force to discharge and can fail to activate during a fire emergency. In addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard.
Nearly 400 reports of extinguishers malfunctioning have been reported that resulted in 16 injuries and one death.
In 2014 a Pennsylvania man died in a car crash after an extinguisher used by first responders malfunctioned. His family received a settlement from Kidde.
Kidde will replace defective extinguishers for free with new ones made with metal parts. The list of recalled models is available on the website of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, cpsc.gov.
