Fire Extinguisher Recall Covers 38 Million Kidde Devices Dating Back to 1973

A fire extinguisher recall was announced for safety products manufactured by Kidde as far back as 1973, citing plastic handles on more than 38 million devices that could fail to activate during an emergency, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday.

CBS News reported the commission warned that 142 models of the fire extinguisher might not work during an emergency because of the faulty plastic handles.

"The fire extinguishers can become clogged or require excessive force to discharge and can fail to activate during a fire emergency," the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. "In addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard."

The recall targeted Kidde's disposable fire extinguishers with plastic handles and with plastic push-buttons, the company’s website said. It added that the recall does not cover the Kidde Professional or Badger branded fire extinguishers, which have metal handles and valve assemblies.

The product safety commission said the recall covers Kidde fire extinguishers manufactured between Jan. 1, 1973, through Aug. 15, 2017, including models that were previously recalled in March 2009 and February 2015.

The models were sold in red, white and silver, and are either ABC- or BC-rated, the commission stated. The commission noted that date codes are not printed to fire extinguishers created before 2007.

"If it is determined that you do have an affected fire extinguisher, a replacement will be shipped within approximately 10 to 15 business days from this call. Please keep your affected unit until the replacement arrives," a Kidde statement said.

The commission said Kidde was aware of a 2014 death involving a car fire following a crash where emergency responders could not get a recalled Kidde fire extinguisher to work.

Overall, there have been 391 reports of failed or limited activation or nozzle detachment, including the fatality, 16 injuries, including smoke inhalation and minor burns, and 91 reports of property damage, the commission said.

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