Could your home’s fire extinguisher be defective? For millions of Canadians, that’s a very real possibility.
Kidde Corporation, an American company based in North Carolina, is recalling almost 40 million fire extinguishers across the United States and Canada. That includes 2.7 fire extinguishers north of the 49th parallel.
The recall is a result of units tending to get clogged or require excessive force to discharge.
A total of 134 different brands of fire extinguishers are included in the recall, with the dates of manufacture ranging between Jan. 1, 1973, and Aug. 15, 2017.
The complete list of recalled models:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (which regulates the U.S.) stated in a release that it has been made aware of 391 instances in which the extinguishers failed.
Of those, 16 injuries, 91 instances of property damage, and one death have resulted.
In addition, Health Canada has received two reports of failed activation. Neither involved injury or death, but one resulted in property damages.
Anyone in Canada with an affected fire extinguisher should contact the company at 1-855-233-2882, while in the U.S. the number to call is 1-855-271-0773.
Kidde has stated that no proof of purchase is required and customers will be sent a free replacement unit within two weeks.
