Schneider Electric just announced a recall of 15 million of its SurgeArrest surge protectors (series APC 7 and APC 8) made before 2003. The company warns they can overheat, smoke and start a fire.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said the company had received
- 700 reports of overheating and melting;
- 13 reports of injuries, including smoke inhalation, and burns from touching the overheated device;
- 55 reports of property damage, including a house fire that caused $916,000 in damage and a fire in a medical facility that caused a loss of $750,000.
The APC SurgeArrest surge protectors involved in this recall were made in China and the Philippines. They were sold at Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, and other stores nationwide from January 1993 through December 2002 for between $13 and $50. Consumers should be aware that the manufacturer was American Power Conversion (APC), now known as Schneider Electric IT Corp., of West Kingston, R.I.
According to the CPSC, consumers should immediately stop using the recalled surge protectors, unplug them and contact Schneider Electric for a free replacement surge protector.
(Source: CPSC website, Recall number: 14-001 dated October 3, 2013).
Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C. serves the injured, and their families, in Reading, Pottsville and throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania. The lawyers there handle personal injury claims, including claims for injuries or death caused by unsafe or dangerous products.