Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission fined Kidde $12 million because the government says Kidde knew about the problems for years and didn't report it. "We strive to provide the highest level of customer service, and we appreciate WHEC (and you) for bringing this matter to our attention. But neither of their fire extinguishers worked, and Brendan was trapped in the car. The Underwriters Laboratory (UL) rates fire extinguishers to be used on certain types of fires. We encourage all consumers who may believe they have affected fire extinguishers to inspect today. It was one of the biggest recalls in government history: Millions of Kidde fire extinguishers were recalled in 2017 due to serious defects. If you have a Kidde fire extinguisher, here's why you should as well. The guide and video are available here. … If you need to charge rechargeable models, bring it only to a certified fire-equipment-maintenance company. A fire extinguisher might seem like a simple device, but you would be surprised how many people don’t know how to use one. While it might be convenient to keep a fire extinguisher under a kitchen sink, for example, manufacturers recommend you mount extinguishers in their bracket—in a convenient location and in plain sight—3.5 to 5 feet above the ground so they're out of the reach of small children. Fire Extinguisher Buying Guide Last updated: May 04, 2016 Consumer Reports no longer updates this product category and maintains it for archival purposes only. First Alert’s … A Hubbard Broadcasting Company, COVID-19 in Greater Rochester & Finger Lakes area, BREAKING NEWS > Amber Alert issued for 2 children in Greece, Amber Alert issued for 2 children in Greece, Father identified, charged after taking child from Greece school by 'force', Pharmacies cancel COVID-19 vaccines for essential workers, 1 treated for smoke inhalation after fire in Brockport. ", Copyright 2021 - WHEC-TV, LLC A Hubbard Broadcasting Company, Our Team | Station Info | Closed Captioning | Public File | EEO | Careers | Advertising, Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Karen Calarese at kcalarese@whec.com or 585-546-5670, FCC Applications | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | DMCA Notice | Do Not Sell My Info | Contest Rules | Site Map, This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Three years after Brendan's death, Kidde recalled almost 38 million fire extinguishers with plastic handles because they can get clogged and fail to discharge life-saving chemicals in an emergency. According to the foundation that bears his name, he loved baseball and swimming and excelled at both. Fire extinguisher manufacturer Walter Kidde Portable Equipment has been ordered to pay a $12 million civil penalty following allegations that the company failed to inform the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of product defects in a timely manner. Check Latest Price. First Alert Rechargeable Home Fire Extinguisher. Extinguishers under recall have either a plastic handle or plastic push button. It isn't recommended for fighting electrical fires that are still hooked up to their … We are always glad to hear from our customers. This will allow the plug in CO detector to continue to monitor the surrounding area for carbon monoxide in the event of a power outage. 7 reviews for ConsumerReports.org, 4.0 stars: 'Consumer Reports magazine gives you the latest skinny on virtually anything you could want to buy. Consumer Reports Selects First Alert Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Battery Backup. SAN ANTONIO – It was one of the largest recollects in authorities historical past: Millions of Kidde fire extinguishers had been recalled in 2017 attributable to critical defects. See More Reviews. When you bring the extinguishers home, read the owner's manual to familiarize yourself with their operation and register them with the manufacturer so you're aware of any product updates or recalls. Though models that weighed more than 9 pounds can be harder to hold and use, you should still buy the largest one you can comfortably handle. One of those questions was from a 92-year-old viewer who called me Wednesday morning. The Amerex B402 is a dry chemical fire extinguisher certified for class A, B, and C fires, and it discharges for 14 seconds.One Amazon reviewer said that a home Amerex extinguisher that was last inspected in 1998 successfully put out a fire in his house in 2019. In both types, you'll find the model number beneath the instructions on your extinguisher. • Aim low, pointing the extinguisher at the base of the fire. • Sweep the nozzle from side to side. Robert Sanford, the former firefighter charged with assaulting three Capitol Police officers by hitting them in the head with a fire extinguisher during the U.S. Capitol siege on January 6, has obtained legal counsel.His attorney, Enrique Latoison, obtained some ill-advised notoriety of his own on Friday evening. CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) — A retired Chester firefighter was arrested by the FBI for allegedly hurling a fire extinguisher at police inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); WHEC-TV, LLC His athleticism was matched only by his intellect. The company has received one report of a related death in 2014, when a fire extinguisher failed to work during a car fire. There have been 16 injuries, 91 reports of property damage, and 391 reports of the extinguishers either not working at all or not working properly. Replace home-use nonrechargeable fire extinguishers 12 years after the manufacture date, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that dry chemical extinguishers that are intended to be discarded after use should be disposed of 12 years after the date of manufacture. In consumer news, I've heard from a number of you who have questions about your fire extinguisher. To determine whether extinguishers are properly charged, inspect them every 30 days and as detailed in the owner's manual. Twenty-two-year-old Brendan Pollock Rosko died that day, and his death was the impetus for a sweeping investigation of Kidde fire extinguishers. • Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly. That's why you need one full-floor, multipurpose fire extinguisher on each level of your home and one in your garage, plus smaller, supplemental units for the kitchen and car. Updated: January 13, 2021 07:01 PM It would be useful if more manufacturers placed an expiration date on their extinguishers. SAN ANTONIO – It was one of the biggest recalls in government history: Millions of Kidde fire extinguishers were recalled in 2017 due to serious defects. After one of the biggest recalls in government history, a new Consumer Reports investigation finds reports of serious problems with Kidde-brand fire … It was August of 2014. Home fires are often unpredictable, and they can be deadly. The Amerex B456 (available at Amazon) is a full-sized, heavy-duty fire extinguisher that could save entire rooms of your home. Check out for the latest reviews, tips, and recommendations and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: But when she called Kidde, a customer service representative told her the extinguishers were too old, and she should go to Home Depot and buy a replacement. Heavier extinguishers have more flame retardant and delivered it quicker and longer in our tests. So I did some digging. Kidde, the largest manufacturer of fire extinguishers in the United States, has agreed to pay a $12 million fine to settle a complaint by the Department (800) 561-4887 En Español Home As safety is our top priority, our Customer Support representative then counseled Ms. Lee that she may want to consider replacing her fire extinguishers as they had exceeded their recommended useful life, between 10-12 years. Consumer Reports no longer updates this product category and maintains it for archival purposes only. These clearly show which extinguishers are being recalled and those that are not. Consumer Reports: Inside Kidde’s handling of massive fire extinguisher recall ksat.com - Marilyn Moritz. No matter which fire extinguisher you buy, make sure its pressure indicator shows "full" and that it was manufactured within the last year. North Carolina-based Kidde was fined $12 million last week after the company failed to report significant fire-extinguisher defects “in a timely matter,” the Consumer … Based in … These are the best fire extinguishers for home we tested: Kidde Pro 210; First Alert Home 2 Pro; Amerex B500; Kidde Pro 10 MP; Amerex B456; We also tested two non-extinguisher fire suppression tools: StoveTop FireStop As for Kidde, I reached out to them about our 92-year-old-viewer, and a spokesman sent me the following statement: "The safety of our customers and the quality of our products has always been our top priority. It surprised no one that this bright, outgoing kiddo chose to major in chemical engineering at the University of Pittsburg. Designed to work with any standard outlet, this dual-power carbon monoxide alarm uses a battery backup. In consumer news, I've heard from a number of you who have questions about your fire extinguisher.One of those questions was from a 92-year-old viewer who called me Wednesday morning. The recent recall of nearly 40 million Kidde fire extinguishers means many households may find themselves without suitable fire extinguishers. A fire extinguisher might seem like a simple device, but you would be surprised how many people don’t know how to use one. We worked closely with relevant authorities to ensure that these fire extinguishers were recalled as quickly as possible and replaced with different, unaffected models. Fire Extinguisher Ratings. It is vital that you use the correct fire extinguisher for the fire as using the wrong type of fire extinguisher could be life threatening. Consumer Reports and fire safety experts […] The recent recall of nearly forty million Kidde fire extinguishers means many households may find themselves without suitable fire extinguishers. Now a Consumer Reports investigation reveals new findings about how Kidde, a brand name synonymous with fire safety, allegedly failed to report information about problems with its fire extinguishers, putting consumers at risk for years. It will only dispense fire retardant for several seconds up to a minute, depending on the extinguisher. The fire extinguishers were sold under dozens of different brand names, all listed on the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice. Consumer Reports’ expert explains how they work. A fire extinguisher might seem like a simple device, but you would be surprised how many people don’t know how to use one. Brendan was driving down a Pennsylvania road when he lost control of the car, hit a tree, and the car caught fire. As you are aware, in 2017 Kidde worked closely with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to initiate a voluntary, broad recall of specific fire extinguisher product lines. "We apologize to Ms. Lee for any confusion, and as a private gesture of goodwill, we are offering a free replacement for her models. We are dedicated to fulfilling all eligible consumer recall and have replaced nearly 100% of all eligible, requested customer recall replacement claims through the end of 2020. We will ask that she send an email to us with her shipping address. SAN ANTONIO – It was one of the biggest recalls in government history: Millions of Kidde fire extinguishers were recalled in 2017 due to serious … Once you place them in the right spots around your home, knowing how to use fire extinguishers when you need them is crucial. Class ABC models work on all the fires above. His name was Brendan Rosko. Class A are designed to put out rubbish, wood, and paper fires; Class B are for oil and grease fires; and Class C are for electrical fires. Consumer Reports: Inside Kidde’s handling of massive fire extinguisher recall It was one of the biggest recalls in government history: Millions of Kidde fire extinguishers were … To increase your chances of successfully and safely extinguishing a fire, use the PASS—pull, aim, squeeze, sweep—technique: • Pull the pin, hold the extinguisher away from you, and release the locking mechanism. When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. If you're unsure whether your extinguishers are rechargeable, check the owner's manual or the pressure gauge. Cold Fire All Season. Now a Consumer Reports investigation reveals new findings about how Kidde, a model identify synonymous with fire security, allegedly did not report details about issues with its … "For consumers who wish to evaluate whether their extinguishers are included in the recall, we have developed a video and recall guide that can help. You'll notice letters on the extinguishers, which indicate the type(s) of fires they can handle. Like smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms, which you should replace every 10 years and every five years, respectively, fire extinguishers have a limited service life. "Included in the scope of the recall were H110G models with dates of manufacture between January 2, 2012 and August 15, 2017. Consumer Reports’ expert explains how they work. On January 13, Ms. Lee contacted our Customer Support Center regarding her H110G fire extinguishers, and advised the Customer Support representative that her units were manufactured in 2003 and 2005 – years that are not included in the recall. This kid learned Spanish in one summer by constantly practicing the language with his co-workers. On most extinguishers, a needle on the pressure gauge will sit in a green-colored part of the dial of if the unit is properly charged and to red-colored areas if it needs to be recharged or is overcharged. According to public records, police were there quickly with Kidde fire extinguishers in hand. I looked up her model number, and sure enough, it was on the recall list. Deciding When It's Time to Upgrade Your Child's Car Seat. Deanna Dewberry A fire extinguisher is designed to work very quickly. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. 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