Authorities in the US and Canada have ordered the recall of solar-powered patio umbrellas that were only available at Costco after some of the umbrellas caught fire.
The umbrellas, sold at Costco Canada, have been known to catch fire after the battery unit that powers the LED lights in the product overheats.
The recall affects approximately 33,000 umbrellas sold in Canada, and an additional 400,000 in the U.S. Says the CPSC. The umbrellas were recalled jointly by the CPSC, Health Canada, SunVilla, and Costco.
On June 23, Health Canada issued a recall for the SunVilla 10-foot Solar LED Market Umbrellas, advising consumers to cease using them right away and send them back to Costco for a refund.
“Customers should stop using the umbrellas and remove the solar panel puck (the piece that contains the lithium-ion battery), store it out of the sun and away from combustible material, and not charge the puck with its AC adapter, The umbrellas can be returned to any Costco Warehouse for a full refund,” the CPSC says.
The umbrellas, which include LED lights on the interior of the arms, have been marketed in a variety of colors, according to the government website.
As of June 9, 2022, SunVilla had only heard of one incident in Canada where a battery overheated and an umbrella caught fire, but there had been no injuries reported. The company has received five reports of batteries overheating, four umbrellas catching fire, and one smoke inhalation incident in the United States.
“The lithium-ion batteries in the umbrella’s solar panels can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards,” the CPSC said.
From December 2020 to May 2022, the umbrellas were offered for sale in Costco warehouses and online for prices ranging from $130 to $160, according to the CPSC.
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Sources: Westernjournal, Usatoday, Bgr