Firefighters Warn Of Dangers When Using Firepot Fuel Gels

by Staff Blogger | November 26th, 2012

November 26, 2012 Despite the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issuing a voluntary recall for the fuel gel used in a decorative flaming ceramic pot more than a year ago due to Fire and Burn Injury risks, firefighters in California are reminding residents these products are dangerous. ABC 7 News reports the flame inside the lit fuel canister can burn so low that it may not be visible to the human eye. So, when a person goes to change the canister out, it may still be burning, causing hot and burning liquid fuel to spill. These spills have a potential to cause the canister to explode as well. A woman from Anaheim, California, was one of the most recent victims of the defective product. She sustained second-degree burns on her face as the result of a fuel canister explosion, while her dog sustained second and third-degree burns over 25 percent of its body. Safety advocates are pushing for companies to utilize modern means of communication, such as social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, for warning customers about potentially hazardous products. Officials are also working on policies that will better regulate the gel fuel market. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers believe manufacturers of products like fuel gel and fire pots have an obligation to ensure the safety of their products for consumers and failure to do so could be considered negligence in the event of an accident.