1.2M Rechargeable Lights Recalled for Fire Risk After Death, Injury

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall for more than 1.2 million rechargeable lights sold in the U.S. and 37,800 sold in Canada by Good Earth Lighting Inc. The recall comes after reports of one death, one injury, and at least six fires caused by the lights.

The CPSC warns that the lights’ lithium-ion batteries, manufactured in China and Cambodia, can overheat and ignite the plastic housing, posing fire and burn hazards. The affected lights were sold between October 2017 and January 2024 at various retailers, including Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, Amazon, QVC, Meijers, and Menards, under model numbers RE1122, RE1145, RE1362, and RE1250.

Consumers are advised to stop using the lights immediately. Good Earth Lighting will provide replacement lights of equal or greater value. The company has decided to conduct a voluntary recall in partnership with the CPSC after investigating ten reported incidents out of 1.2 million fixtures sold.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in various products, including vapes, toothbrushes, scooters, hoverboards, cellphones, tablets, laptops, and e-bikes, due to their rechargeable nature. However, they can be dangerous if improperly stored, damaged, charged, or used, as they can overheat and catch fire.

Last summer, e-bikes powered by lithium-ion batteries caused fires in the U.S. and London. In New York City, lithium-ion batteries are the leading cause of fire deaths, with 270 fires in 2023 leading to 150 injuries and 18 deaths.

In a separate incident, the FDA is investigating whether a cucumber recall is responsible for a nationwide salmonella outbreak, with 162 reported cases in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Fresh Start Produce, the supplier of the cucumbers, advises customers to check with retailers to verify whether affected cucumbers were sold.