THUNDER BAY - City residents are being asked to check fire extinguishers to see if they are part of a nation-wide recall and Thunder Bay Fire Rescue warns that recalled fire extinguishers may fail in an emergency situation.
According to a media release issued by the city of Thunder Bay, more than 40 million extinguishers, including about 2.7 million sold in Canada manufactured by the Kidde Corporation, are being recalled. The recall includes 134 models and are red, white and silver, and are either ABC or BC rated and include plastic handle and push-button Pindicator fire extinguishers.
The extinguishers may become clogged or require excessive force to discharge and can fail to activate during a fire emergency. The nozzle can also detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard.
“A list of all the affected models can be found on our website at www.thunderbay.ca/fire,” said Public Education Officer Anthony Stokaluk. “Owners of the recalled extinguishers should contact Kidde immediately for a replacement and for instructions on how to return recalled models.”
Kidde can be reached at (855) 271-0773 or at www.kidde.com. No proof of purchase is required, however, a model number, year of manufacture, and the unit's date code and serial number must be provided.
There have been 391 reports of the extinguishers failing, resulting in at least one death in 2014 that involved a car fire following a crash, as well as 16 injuries, including smoke inhalation and minor burns.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue reminds residents that fire extinguishers must be serviced annually by a qualified technician and that retail store bought extinguishers with expiry dates need to be replaced when they expire.
