FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Originally issued April 25, 2006, Revised May 22, 2007
Release #06-147 |
Firm Contact Number: (800) 291-8251
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
|
Note: Revised Telephone Number.
RedMax Backpack Blowers Recalled Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturers named below, today announced voluntary recalls of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: RedMax Gas-Powered Backpack Blowers
Units: About 170,000
Importer: Komatsu Zenoah America, doing business as RedMax, of Norcross, Ga.
Hazard: The muffler support bracket can break, creating an opening in the muffler body. Hot exhaust gases can then escape from the muffler and could melt the fuel tank or ignite grease, oil or debris around the fuel tank, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: RedMax has received five reports of units that have caught fire when hot exhaust gases from damaged mufflers ignited grease, oil or debris around the area of the fuel tank. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The RedMax gasoline-powered backpack blowers are red and black with a white fuel tank. Model numbers EB6200, EB7000, EB7001, and EB7001RH can be found on the body of the blowers along with "RedMax," "Zenoah," and "Komatsu."
Sold by: RedMax dealers nationwide from December 1996 through December 2005 for about $530
Manufactured In: Japan and Georgia
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers immediately and contact RedMax for a dealer location nearest to them to schedule a free inspection and a free repair if necessary. Consumers who have registered their equipment will receive direct notification about this recall from RedMax.
Consumer Contact: For additional information consumers can contact RedMax at (800) 291-8251, anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.redmax.com
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.