CANDLES AND CANDLE ACCESSORIES
11/1999
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a number of candle product recalls in the past few years because these products may cause fires. In the Fall 1997 issue of Fire Findings (Vol. 5, No. 4), we discuss candle fires in great length in the Special Report.
Amscan, Inc.
Floral Candles (6,000)
These 2 1/2-inch high, scented floral candle containers can break and allow hot wax to escape. Sold in assorted colors, including red, white, purple, pink and yellow. "Made in China" sticker appears on the bottoms of the candles. Sold nationwide from January through March 1998.
Information: (800) 335-7585 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.
Boscov's Department Store Inc.
Windmills with candles (19,000)
The candles are too close to the wooden structure of the windmill and can cause the products to catch on fire.
The windmill decoration is an "A-" framed windmill building structure with a nativity scene on a turntable. It is pine, with a green roof and red trim. The fans of the windmill are printed with red stars. Candles are positioned in the four corners, which when lit, are designed to generate heat to turn the fan. The decoration comes in a mostly red box with a photo of the decoration on the front and back. The box includes the words, "14" H Pine Wooden Windmill. . . MADE IN
CHINA."
Boscov's stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and New York sold the windmill decorations between September 1996 and July 1998.
Information: (610) 370-3912 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.
Gump's By Mail Inc.
Three-wick candles (1,960)
This three-wick wax candle, contained in a porcelain blue and white Oriental- style bowl, can generate high flames that present a fire hazard.
Gold sticker on the bottom of the bowl is labeled, "Andrea by Sadek...Made in Japan." A white sticker on the bottom of the bowl is labeled in part, "Charles Sadek Import Co."
Sold nationwide from May 1996 through October 1997. Gump's is not the manufacturer of the candle.
Information: (800) 338-2670 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.
Holiday candle products
C.R. Seasons LTD, Farmingdale, New York
Bleeding hand Halloween candles (47,100)
These hand-shaped wax candles can generate high flames, presenting a fire hazard. The candle is shaped like a hand with five fingers, each with individual wicks. The flames can reach 8 inches high as the wax melts down to the palm. The candles were sold in two colors: pink skin-toned with a red band around the bottom of the wrist; and dark green with a red band around the bottom of the wrist.They were sold in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut during the 1995 and 1996 Halloween seasons.
Information: (800) 425-9889
East West Distributing Co. and Walgreens of Deerfield, Illinoia
Hand-shaped, five-finger decorative Halloween candles(95,900 )
See information from C.R. Seasons LTD above. (Most of the information is the same.) The name, "Decorative Novelty Candle" is printed on the front of the box. These hand-shaped candles were sold from August 1996 through October 1996.
Information: (800) 289-2273
Magic Creations, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Halloween hand-shaped bleeding hand candles (30,300)
The candles have five fingers, three of which have individual wicks. Flames can reach 7 inches high when the candle is lit. The candle is packaged in plastic, with attached labels reading in part, "Bleeding hand candle ... drips red blood." Sold from August 1997 through October 1997.Information: (412) 672-2300
RJS Inc.
Ralph Lauren Thoroughbred Candles (1,222)
The flasks on these candles can overheat and burn with high flames. The candles are silver votives that have a saddle-brown color leather wrap sleeve filled with yellow wax. Item code RLT027 is on the packaging. Sold nationwide between September 1995 and April 1998.
Information: (800) 228-5942 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.
Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., Oakland, New Jersey
Hand-shaped, five-wick Glowing Gore Halloween candles (67,600)
Hand-shaped, five wick Dem Bones Halloween candles (17,600)
These hand-shaped candles can also generate high flames (up to 10 inches) when the candles melt down to the palm with the wicks of the five fingers burning together. The Glowing Gore candle is skin-toned with candle wicks in each finger. The Dem Bones candle is pale green and dark green with wicks in each fingers. They were sold nationwide - Glowing Gore from March 1994 to October 1996 and Dem Bones beginning in March 1996.Information: (800) 272-7877
Division Sales, Inc., Itasca, Illinois
Santa Claus candle holders (10,000)
The paint on these Santa figures is flammable. The holders are red and white with star-shaped openings in the back and front and a label on the bottom that reads, "Made in China." Sold through dollar stores from October 1995 through November 1996, the holders measure about 5 1/2 inches high and have an opening in the back for a wax candle.
Information: (800) 621-8134
International Silver Co., Boston, Massachusetts and Godinger Silver Art Co.,
Ltd., Brooklyn, New York
Votive candle holders (52,000)
This candle holder, called "Tree Shaped 7 Light Votive Holder," contains small glass pots that can overheat and shatter. The holders from Godinger measure about 12 3/4 inches high and were sold in two styles: silver plated and brass plated. The International Silver Co. sold only silver-plated holders. All the holders were packaged with four green and three red small glass pots for holding candles. They were sold nationwide from September 1995 through December 1995.
Information (Intl. Silver Co.): (800) 667-5743
Information (Godinger Silver Art Co.): (718) 387-2812
New Design, Inc., Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Potpourri simmer pots (22,000)
The candle accompanying these porcelain pots may generate an excessive flame. The pots, which measure about 5 1/2 inches high, are shaped as an angel, Santa bear or snowman. The pots were sold nationwide in the fall of 1996.
Information: (847) 459-5655
Miscellaneous candle products
Candle-lite, Cincinnati, Ohio
Clearfire candles (3 million)
These candles, made of a clear, gel-like substance, can flare up during use, causing the candles' glass holders to overheat and break. Each candle was packaged in a textured, clear glass jar, shaped like a vase, that measured about 3 inches high. Sold primarily during the 1995 Christmas season. A label on the bottom of the container has a UPC code beginning with 076001.
Information: (800) 866-6654
Glass Dimensions, Essex, Massachusetts
Satellight Oil Candles (1,082)
These candles, housed in elliptical glass containers, can leak fuel and catch fire. They measure between 4 and 8 inches in diameter. The recalled units have a clear support mechanism that fits flush against an eyelet that holds the wick in place. The seal prevents the passage of air into the candle's oil reservoir, which may cause pressure buildup and fuel leakage. The candles were sold nationwide in January and February 1994.
Information: (508) 768-7984
IMSA International, Inc., El Paso, Texas
Terra cotta potted candle sets (50,000)
This three-piece candle set can overheat and catch fire. The candles measure about 2 inches high and are potted in terra cotta clay flower pots or vases. They were sold at Dollar Tree stores between April 1 and 24, 1996.
Information: (800) 351-1041
MacKenzie-Childs Ltd., Aurora, New York
Paper candle shades (42,000)
Use of the paper shade with a candle presents a fire hazard. MacKenzie-Childs has received three reports of the paper shades igniting after contacting the flame of the accompanying candle.
The paper shades are decorated with various colors and designs, beads and ribbons. The shades measure about 5 inches high, 2 inches wide on top and 6 inches wide on bottom. The shades are designed to sit on top of a candle with the use of a metal candle follower. The top of the candle follower supports the shade, and the bottom sits on top of the candle and moves down the length of the candle as it melts.
Sold nationwide from January 1992 through April 1998.
Information: (800) 640-0488 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through
Friday.
Outdoor citronella torches
Conros Corp.
Summer Lights brand fuel canisters for outdoor bamboo torches (30,000)
The fuel canister assembly can cause the bamboo pole to ignite. Consumers fill the fuel canisters with citronella and place them into the bamboo poles. Sold nationwide in April and May 1998.
Information: (800) 988-3956
Everything's A Dollar, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Citronella lawn torches (45,000)
These 33-inch bamboo torches, used outdoors for lighting and insect control, may erupt or "flash," shooting flames and hot wax onto nearby people or combustibles. The candles, shaped like cylinders and with a citronella scent, were sold between April 1992 and July 1992.
Information: Not available
Loomis Sales Co., Transfer, Pennsylvania
Citronella lawn torches (362,000)
These 33-inch painted torches (item GE221) also have the potential to spatter hot wax while in use. Designed for outside use, they are wax candles on bamboo stakes wrapped in bright yellow packaging. They were sold nationwide from January 1993 to August 1993.
Information: Not available
Potpourri candle products
Bath & Body Works, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
Ceramic potpourri burners (18,700)
These white burners may contain hairline cracks that can cause the burner to fracture or shatter while in use. The burners are cylinder shaped and measure about 5 1/2 inches high. They're decorated with various floral designs. To heat the burner, consumers place candles in a round hole in the back of the burner. They were sold nationwide from April 1995 through April 1996.
Information: (800) 395-1001
Bath & Body Works, Inc., New Albany, Ohio
Botanical candles (18,400)
Dried flowers inside these cylindrical, white wax candles may catch fire as the candles burn. The candles measure 4 inches high and contain small, purple lavender flowers. A label on the bottom of the candle reads, "Garden Lavender Botanical Candle." Bath & Body Works stores sold the candles nationwide from May
1996 through August 1996.
Information: (800) 395-1001
Kmart Corp.
Ceramic potpourri houses (15,000)
A tealight candle, sold with the potpourri house, burns too hot and poses a risk of fire. The houses were sold starting in June 1989.
Information: Not available
Scentex, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
Earth Scents natural potpourri candles (97,000)
Due to a manufacturing error, the wick on this candle is positioned in such a way that the potpourri inside the wax of the candle can ignite and flare up during use. The candles, which can be identified by their oval shape and the visible appearance of potpourri in the bottom half of the wax candle, were sold nationwide from August 10, 1994 through October 1, 1994.
Information: (312) 278-0700
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