Authorities withdrew more than 400,000 solar-powered umbrellas sold at Costco due to the risk of overheating and fire.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which released the download Thursday for the 10-foot SunVilla Solar LED Market Umbrella, said consumers said lithium-ion batteries in the umbrella’s solar panel could overheat, creating a risk of fire and burns. .
The umbrella, which was sold in different colors, has LED lights along its shoulders and a black solar panel battery at the top with a lid that says “YEEZE” or “YEEZE 1”. Customers should remove this washer and store it away from the sun or flammable materials, the commission said. Users do not need to charge it with an AC adapter.
Customers have noted six cases in which lithium-ion batteries have overheated, the commission said. Three of these cases include cases in which the solar panels have caught fire; two in which the umbrella is lit; and 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 refund company.
Costco and SunVilla, the maker of the umbrellas, are in contact with prominent buyers, the commission said. Neither company was immediately available for comment on Sunday.
The Canadian government also withdrew nearly 33,000 umbrellas. The product was sold from January 2021 to May 2022, according to a Canadian government consumer recall, while the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the product is available online and in Costco warehouses, selling for $ 130 to $ 160, from December 2020 to May 2022.
The solar panel washer at the top of the retracted umbrellas must be removed and stored safely, said the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Credit … through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Lithium batteries have been linked to fires in other products, leading to an increase in deaths and injuries, the New York Fire Department said on Facebook. At the end of last year, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, to which the department responded, increased to 93 out of 44 in 2020, and four deaths were attributed to fires with lithium-ion batteries, compared to zero in 2020. said the department.
In April, four separate fires within 24 hours were caused by these batteries in electric scooters and bicycles, causing 12 injuries, the agency said.
“If you use a lithium battery, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage,” the department said. “Always use the manufacturer’s cable and power adapter made specifically for the device. If the battery overheats, discontinue use immediately.
In Vancouver, Canada, lithium-ion battery fires have become the leading cause of fire deaths in 2022, with five deaths reported as of June 13, authorities said.
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