Fuel Gel Product Pulled From Store Shelves After Reported Injuries

CHICAGO (STMW) - A fuel gel product has been pulled from store shelves after at least 23 burn injures were reported nationwide.

The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall of Napa Home & Garden fuel gels on Wednesday, a release from Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan's office said.

The CPSC cited 37 incidents and 23 burn injuries nationwide due to Napa's products, where are sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Shopko and Restoration Hardware, among other furniture, home and garden, and specialty shops.

Recent media reports have detailed life-threatening burns and injuries caused when consumers used the fuel gels, which are poured into firepots for use as candles, the release said.

Madigan said reports have shown consumers were injured when they added more fuel to the pot in an attempt to light or re-light the firepot, causing the product to explode into a fireball.

Late last week, Napa pulled its products from Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide as it reviews labeling to ensure safe use.

Any consumer who suffers an injury should report it to the CPSC by calling its hotline at (800) 638-2772 or (800) 638-8270 for the hearing impaired.

On Tuesday, the family of a west suburban child severely burned by a fuel gel product filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against BirdBrain Citronella Fuel Gel, another manufacturer of the gels.

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