FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 10, 1997
Release # 98-038
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC, Retailers Announce Recall of Curtain-Style Holiday
Lights
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), retailers nationwide are
recalling more than 1.5 million sets of curtain-style,
indoor/outdoor holiday lights. The electrical wiring can
pull out from the splices of these decorative light sets,
exposing live wires and presenting an electrocution hazard.
CPSC is not aware of any injuries involving these
lights. This recall is being issued to prevent the
possibility of injury.
The recalled curtain-style strings of lights are
different from other decorative holiday lights because they
use a horizontal electrical wire and have vertical strings
of four to seven lights that hang down to give an icicle
effect when hung on a roof's edge or a tree. These
lights have a "splicing connector" located at the point
where the string of lights hang down from the horizontal
electrical wire. The splicing connector can pull apart or
break exposing a metal wire, causing the electrical shock.
To see if you have these indoor/outdoor lights, check
for the names "Curtain," "Icicle" and "Wonder Lights." These
miniature lights come in strings of clear bulbs and
multicolored bulbs, and have either white or green wires.
They were sold in strings of 100 or 150 lights in boxes
containing one string, and sets of three or more strings.
According to Underwriters Laboratories (UL),
unauthorized holographic UL labels, located on each string
near the plug, with the following numbers identify the
lights being recalled:
E115759 E126258 E127357 E127522
E48723 E64444 E65770 E97593
Curtain-style lights without splice connectors are not
involved in this recall.
The lights are packaged in cardboard display boxes,
some with a cellophane window to view the product, and are
labeled in part, "Made in China." Many of the boxes feature
a decorated home at night with the holiday lights on.
Retail stores, including BJ's Wholesale, Builders
Square, CVS Pharmacy, Caldor, Frank's Nursery & Crafts,
Hechinger, Hobby Lobby, Home Quarters, M J Designs,
Montgomery Ward, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Sam's Club, Shopko,
Venture, Walgreens and Wal-Mart sold the lights nationwide
from September 1995 to November 1997 for between $6
and $19, depending on the size of the sets purchased.
Consumers should stop using these light sets
immediately and return them to the store where purchased for
a refund. Consumers with questions about this recall should
call or visit the local retail store where they purchased
the lights, or contact CPSC's toll-free hotline at (800)
638-2772. More safety information for trees, lights, decorations, and
fireplaces is available from our holiday
safety press release.