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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Company Phone Number: (800) 5HOLMES |
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October 21, 1999 |
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Release # 00-009 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Holmes Products Corp., of Milford, Mass., is recalling about 45,000 heaters. The thermostats in some of these heaters are improperly positioned, which can cause them to overheat, posing a fire hazard.
Holmes Products has received 11 reports of these units overheating and catching fire. Six of these incidents resulted in minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
These "Wide-Angle," portable heaters, manufactured in 1998, are approximately 12 inches high, and are in the shape of a half-circle. The front is white, and the back is gray. The units have two knobs on the top. The date code, which includes the number 98, is located on the back, right-hand corner of the units just above the box containing the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) logo. Other writing inside the UL box includes, "MODEL: HFH-297" and "MADE IN CHINA." "Holmes(r)" also is written in the UL box and on the front of the unit.
Mass merchandise stores, such as Kmart and Target, sold these heaters from September 1998 through July 1999 for about $27.
Consumers should immediately stop using these heaters, and contact Holmes for information on how to receive a refund. For more information, call Holmes at (800) 5HOLMES. Consumers also can access Holmes' web site at www.holmesproducts.com.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help 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 40 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 @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800