Home Depot is recalling fire pits that pose a burn hazard after receiving reports of three injuries. The recalled product, Hampton Bay 50,000 BTU, 30-inch Cross Ridge outdoor gas fire pit table patio heaters, have the following product identification information:
Model number: G-FTB51057B
UPC: 6944937601579
They were sold exclusively at Home Depot between August 2016 and November 2017. The retail price was around $200.
The products are being recalled because they lack a heat shield that would prevent burn injuries when turning off the propane tank. At the time of the recall, there had been three reports of such injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The recalled products were manufactured in China. Consumers who have purchased them should contact the manufacturer, Yayi, for a repair kit using contact information posted on the CPSC website.
Thermal Burns Injuries
“The severity of a thermal burn depends on the temperature of the heat source, the duration of exposure and the area of exposure,” said Fred Pritzker, a burn attorney who represents clients who have been burned in fires and explosions. “At high temperatures, a brief touch can cause a severe burn. For example, touching a surface that is 140˚ F for one second can result in a second-degree burn, one second at 158˚F can cause third and fourth-degree burns,” he said.
Know the Risks of Burn Injury
As fire pits have grown in popularity, so have the number of injuries associated with them. In fact, fire pit injuries nearly tripled between 2006 and 2012, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Children and young adults are among those who face an increased risk of a burn injury from a fire pit.
To reduce the risk of injury, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends the following safety tips:
- Locate the fire pit at least three feet away from anything that can burn including your house, other structures, trees, and garden areas.
- Closely watch children while fire pit is in use.
- Contain sparks from wood-burning fires try using a metal screen.
- Always turn off or put out the fire before you leave the area.
- Store matches and other supplies out of reach of children.
