Latest news with #firehazard
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
B.C. Forest Practices Board says forestry changes could reduce wildfire risk
VICTORIA — British Columbia's Forest Practices Board says a two-year investigation has found "outdated rules and unclear responsibility" are stopping forestry from becoming a wildfire prevention tool. The board — an independent body that audits B.C. forest practices — says it examined forestry operations between 2019 and 2022 in areas where communities and forests meet, including the Sea to Sky, Cariboo-Chilcotin and Peace districts. It says fire hazard assessments are a "cornerstone of wildfire risk reduction," and while the industry assessments met 70 per cent of the requirements, fewer than one-quarter were completed on time. The board says municipalities are excluded from the definition of legal interface, a term used for fires burning close to homes, which means logging debris can remain for up to 30 months, even in high-risk areas. The report makes five recommendations to the province that it says would help support "faster fuel cleanup, better co-ordination and more consistent protection for people and communities throughout B.C." The suggestions include encouraging forest operators to actively reduce fire risk, improve co-ordination between government and industry, update legal definitions to add municipalities in the interface, modernize hazard assessment guidelines and incentivize faster logging cleanup. Board chair Keith Atkinson says more than a million B.C. residents live in areas with high or extreme wildfire risk. "Foresters are already active in these spaces. With better rules and incentives, their efforts can become part of the wildfire solution," he says in the release. "This is an opportunity to improve our policies and processes toward proactive, risk-reducing forestry. It starts with better policy and ends with safer, more fire-resilient communities." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025. The Canadian Press
CBS News
18 hours ago
- CBS News
AstroAI recalls minifridges that caused $360,000 in property damages
AstroAI recalled nearly 250,000 minifridges on Wednesday over fire and burn hazards, after two of the compact refrigerators which caught fire caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. The personal refrigerators' electrical switch can short circuit, posing fire and burn risks, according to a notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC has received at least 70 reports of the minifridges emitting smoke, burning, melting or catching fire. Two fires caused a total of more than $360,000 in property damages, the recall notice states. Manufactured in China, the recalled 4-liter, 6-can capacity minifridges have 9.45 inch diameter, are 6.9 inches wide and 10 inches tall. Available in black, white, blue and pink, the fridges were sold online for about $40 on and from June 2019 through June 2022. The recalled minifridges' model number is LY0204A, which is printed on a label on the back of the product. Nine-digit serial numbers of the affected units starts with "S/N" and begin with either 19, 20, 21, 2201, 2202 or 2203. Consumers with the recalled fridges are urged to immediately stop using them and to contact AstroAI by email at recall@ or through a dedicated recall page on the company's website for a replacement product. The minifridges should be disposed in accordance with state and local waste disposal procedures, the CPSC states.
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Anker Recalls 1.1 Million Power Banks for Fires and Explosions: What to Do if You're Affected
Electronics company Anker has announced an official recall of Anker PowerCore 10000 power banks with the model number A1263, following 19 reports of the portable chargers catching fire and exploding. The Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that more than 1.1 million of the products sold in the US are affected by the recall. The company plans to replace the charging devices, but customers must submit photo evidence of ownership and also prove that they've disposed of the PowerCore devices properly. The PowerCore, made in China, is now one of four current power bank recalls that have been issued by Anker. The others include the 334 MagGo 10K battery, the 321 Power Bank (5K) and the 535 Power Bank (20K). Other Anker models, including two of CNET's top picks for portable chargers -- Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K PD and Anker PowerCore III 10K -- aren't impacted by the recall. Airlines have taken note of portable battery hazards. Recently, Southwest Airlines changed its policy on charging devices inside of carry-on bags. Some international airlines have also begun limiting the types of lithium chargers fliers can bring on planes due to risks of overheating. How to check if your Anker PowerCore has been recalled Anker says the products affected are the A1263 model of the PowerCore 10000 power bank that were purchased between June 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2022. Customers can verify their serial number at a webpage provided by Anker. The serial number is on the bottom of the device. In entering the number, Anker advises, "Pay attention to the letters and numbers in the serial number: '1', 'L', 'I', '2' and 'Z'. Please note that characters such as '0 (zero)' and 'O' (o) may be entered incorrectly. Regarding the serial number of the target product, 'O' and 'I' are not used. What to do if your Anker PowerCore has been recalled In addition to instructing customers to stop using the chargers immediately, the CPSC and Anker posted requirements for receiving a replacement PowerCore device. They include: Submitting a photo of the recalled device that shows the model number, serial number, the consumer's name, date of the photo and the word "recalled" written in permanent marker on the device. The information not on the device can be on a piece of paper next to the device in the photo. Submitting a purchase receipt, though the CPSC says that's not a requirement for the recall. A confirmation of disposal of the device "in accordance with applicable laws and regulations." Anker advises not disposing of the device until receiving confirmation that it's eligible for the recall. From Anker: "If the serial number is worn off or not visible, please contact Anker for guidance." Anker recommends contacting a local hazardous waste collection center versus disposing of it in the trash or through standard recycling services. For additional questions Anker says customers can email support@ with "Anker A1263 Recall" in the subject line or call 800-988-7973. Why portable chargers can be a travel hazard The same reasons that portable charging banks are so easy to carry around are also part of why they can pose a problem. Most use lithium ion technology, which can be used to make battery-based products lighter and efficient, but is also susceptible to overheating or even fires if the batteries are damaged or have degraded. It's not unlike reports a decade ago of cheap batteries on hoverboards spontaneously combusting. Eventually, the products were banned on planes and in some cases, from being shipped. "These products are typically unassuming, and are not something that the average consumer thinks can be potentially dangerous," said Don Fountain, a civil trial attorney and the author of Defect Safety, a book about consumer safety and defective products. Fountain is currently representing a case involving portable batteries that does not involve Anker. "My firm has handled fires and explosions caused by lithium batteries in a variety of products, including power tools, e-bikes, phones, scooters, children's toys, battery packs and others," Fountain said. "I would caution consumers to not store or use these products in a confined or unventilated area that could cause overheating and to not leave these products plugged into home electrical systems for extended periods of periods of time, such as overnight or when on vacation." Fountain said combusting batteries are especially dangerous in cargo holds or in the cabins of airplanes where it may be difficult to put out a fire. The attorney said that in the case of Anker's recall, customers don't always keep their proof of purchase, though it's not required in this case. However, he said, "It is unusual that proof of disposal is required for a recall payment or reimbursement." "Most people that have had an overheating event or a small fire will simply throw the unit away before ever thinking about contacting the manufacturer for a recall reimbursement," Fountain said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Popular Minifridge Brand Sold on Amazon Recalled Nationwide After $360,00 in Property Damages Reported—Here's What You Need to Know
Popular Minifridge Brand Sold on Amazon Recalled Nationwide After $360,00 in Property Damages Reported—Here's What You Need to Know originally appeared on Parade. There's a massive minifridge recall underway affecting 249,100 customers. More specifically, it's the AstroAI 4-Liter/6-Can minifridge, which was sold on Amazon and from June 2019 through June 2022. These pose as a fire and burn hazard and, if you own the model in question, you should stop using it immediately. So far there have been at least 70 reports of these minifridges smoking, burning, melting or catching fire, prompting the recall. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 AstroAI makes many different types of minifridges, and not all are included in the recall. In this case it's the AstroAI 4-Liter/6-Can minifridge with the model number LY0204A and a nine-digit serial number starting with "S/N" followed by one of these numbers: 19, 20, 21, 2201, 2202 or 2203. You can find the serial number on either the bottom or middle-right portion of a label on the back of the minifridge. These were sold in various colors, including black, white, blue and pink. It's advised that if you own one of these models you should stop using it immediately, then reach out to AstroAI for a free replacement. In order to get that free replacement, all you have to do is send the company a photo of the recalled minifridge, clearly showing the model number and serial number. Write "Recalled" on the minifridge in permanent marker before you take the snap. You can either send it to them via email at recall@ or through their online portal at also want to dispose of the recalled minifridge, but check with your local sanitation department on the proper way to do so (often they don't want electrical items thrown in with your regular trash. It's important to note that at least one of the 70 reports about the faulty minifridge resulted in two fires, which did extensive property damage to the tune of $360,000. So please heed the recall and unplug that AstroAI minifridge right Minifridge Brand Sold on Amazon Recalled Nationwide After $360,00 in Property Damages Reported—Here's What You Need to Know first appeared on Parade on Jun 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
AstroAI recalls minifridges over fire hazard that caused $360,000 in property damages
AstroAI is recalling 249,100 minifridges on Wednesday over fire and burn hazards after two of the compact refrigerators caught fire, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. The personal refrigerators' electrical switch can short circuit, posing fire and burn risks, according to a notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC has received at least 70 reports of the minifridges emitting smoke, burning, melting or catching fire. Two fires caused more than $360,000 in property damages, the recall notice states. Manufactured in China, the recalled 4-liter, 6-can capacity minifridges measure 9.45 inches in diameter, 6.9 inches wide and 10 inches tall. Available in black, white, blue and pink, the fridges were sold online for about $40 on and from June 2019 through June 2022. The recalled minifridges' model number is LY0204A, which is printed on a label on the back of the product. Nine-digit serial numbers of the affected units starts with "S/N" and begin with either 19, 20, 21, 2201, 2202 or 2203. Consumers with the recalled fridges are urged to immediately stop using them and to contact AstroAI by email at recall@ or through a dedicated page on the company's website at for a replacement product. Disposal of the recalled minifridges should be in accordance with state and local waste disposal procedures, the CPSC states.
