According to ABC News, the government’s product safety watchdog is urging people to stop using decorative fuel gels. The manufacturers of the fuel gels agreed to recall the gels only after the Consumer Product Safety Commission promised it would not show video of the products exploding in a testing lab. The fuel gels have caused dozens of injuries and two deaths.
CPSC Chairman, Inez Tenenbaum, announced nine companies have agreed to recall about two million jugs of the gel, which is poured into ceramic fire pots and ignited to create candlelight for decorative effect. The CPSC has recorded two deaths and 75 injuries, including 34 people hospitalized with second- and third- degree burns from flash fires and explosions caused by the gel.
“Consumers should immediately stop using these products,” Tenenbaum said.
Most of the burn incidents, Tenenbaum said, involved people pouring liquid into the pots while there was still a lit flame that was hard to see. The burning gel then splashed up and caused the burns.
Once the burning gel is on clothing and skin it can be difficult to remove. Attempting to smother the flames just spreads them and can set other people on fire.
Nine companies have agreed to recall their fuel gel products: Bird Brain, Inc., Bond Manufacturing, SunJel Company, Fuel Barns Inc., Lamplight Farms Inc., Luminosities Inc., Pacific Decor Ltd., Real Flame and Smart Solar USA. Tenenbaum said a tenth firm, Marshall Group, pulled out at the last minute and refuses to recall its PatioGlo fuel.
In Illinois, Attorney General Lisa Madigan demanded that these products be recalled and banned from sale. Madigan compared the fuel gel to legalized napalm.
Kupets & DeCaro, P.C. filed the first of these lawsuits in Illinois naming Bird Brain as the manufacturer and distributor of Firepots and Fuel gel. We can not emphasize enough the extreme dangers associated with the use of these firepots and fuel gel. We urge consumers to discontinue using these unsafe products and contact us if you have suffered related injuries.