WASHINGTON — Kidde announced a recall of 37.8 million plastic-handled and push-button fire extinguishers in the U.S. Thursday because they can clog, simply fail to activate during an emergency or the nozzle can detach with enough force to be an impact hazard.
The massive recall involves 134 models of Kidde fire extinguishers manufactured between Jan. 1, 1973 and Aug. 15, 2017. It includes extinguishers that had been previously recalled as well.
Canadian customers are also affected. The company says about 2.7 million units are being recalled there.
There has been at least one death as a result of the faulty fire safety tools: first responders “could not get the recalled Kidde fire extinguishers to work” in a 2014 car fire, according to a news release.In addition, “there have been approximately 391 reports of failed or limited activation or nozzle detachment, including the fatality, approximately 16 injuries, including smoke inhalation and minor burns, and approximately 91 reports of property damage,” the release reads.