Authorities have recalled more than 400,000 solar-powered umbrellas sold to Costco due to overheating and fire hazards.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which on Thursday issued the withdrawal of the 10-foot SunVilla Solar LED Market Umbrella, said consumers reported that the umbrella’s lithium-ion batteries in the umbrella’s solar panel could overheat. if, which poses a risk of fire and burns.
The umbrella, which was sold in a variety of colors, has LED lights along its arms and a black solar panel battery disc on top with a cover that says “YEEZE” or “YEEZE 1”. Customers should remove this disc and store it away from the sun or combustible material, the commission said. Consumers should not charge it with an AC adapter.
Customers noted six cases in which lithium-ion batteries overheated, the commission said. Three of these cases included cases in which solar panels caught fire; two in which the umbrella caught fire; and a smoke inhalation injury.
The commission advised consumers to stop using the umbrella immediately and said owners could return it to any Costco or contact the company to get a refund.
Costco and SunVilla, the umbrella maker, are contacting well-known buyers, the commission said. Neither company could be contacted immediately for comment on Sunday.
The Canadian government also issued a withdrawal of nearly 33,000 umbrellas. The product was sold from January 2021 to May 2022, according to the Canadian government’s consumer record, while the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the product was available online and at department stores. Costco, selling for between $ 130 and $ 160, from December 2020 to May 2022.
The solar panel disc on top of the removed umbrellas should be safely removed and stored, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. Credit … through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Lithium batteries have been connected to fires in other products, leading to an increase in deaths and injuries, the New York Fire Department said on Facebook. Late last year, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries to which the department responded increased to 93, from 44 in 2020, and four deaths were attributed to lithium-ion battery fires , compared to zero in 2020, the department said.
In April, four different fires in 24 hours were caused by these batteries in scooters and electric bicycles, causing 12 injuries, the department said.
“If you use a lithium battery, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage,” the department said. “Always use the manufacturer’s power cord and power adapter made specifically for your device. If a battery overheats, stop using it immediately.”
In Vancouver, Canada, lithium-ion battery fires became the leading cause of fire deaths in 2022, with five deaths reported on June 13, authorities said.