FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2002
Release # 02-159
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC Issues Warning About Hazardous Red Devil Gas Grills
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is
warning consumers about 155,000 Red Devil gas grills manufactured by e4L
Inc., of Encino, Calif., and, Quantum North America Inc., of Encino,
Calif. The product's design allows consumers to light the grill at an
air intake tube, instead of at the burner. Though the grill appears to
function normally, gas inside the air intake tube ignites. The tube can
reach temperatures of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit and present a burn
hazard to consumers. In some earlier grills, the heat produced by
lighting the grill at the air intake tube damaged the plastic support
piece, and caused the grill to fall to the ground. When it collapses,
flames from the grill can burn nearby consumers and ignite surrounding
combustibles.
There have been 44 reports of consumers suffering burns to legs,
hands and fingers, including reports of some third degree burns, after
the grills collapsed during use. More than 1,000 consumers returned
their grills to the manufacturers because the grills collapsed.
These red metal gas grills have a tripod stand. They have a logo
on the label of the lid and grill base showing a devil cooking at a
grill with the writing, "Red Devil." The lid also reads "The Portable
Outdoor Kitchen." The black plastic base, above the tripod, reads
"QUANTUM HOMEWARES." Components sold with the grill include a heat
plate, an oversized skillet with handles, a table-safe serving trivet,
and carrying totes. They were manufactured in Hong Kong.
Quantum and e4L sold these grills directly to consumers through
television infomercials from about May 1998 through January 1999 for
about $160. Department and specialty stores, television retailers and
web sites sold additional grills.
CPSC sued e4L Inc. and Quantum North America Inc. to obtain a
recall, and an administrative law judge granted CPSC a default judgment
when these manufacturers failed to appear. The firms are liquidating
their assets under bankruptcy law.
Both the Home Shopping Network (HSN) and QVC voluntarily notified
their customers directly about the hazard these grills pose, and
provided a remedy.
Grills purchased from retailers other than the HSN and QVC are
dangerous, and CPSC urges consumers to stop using them immediately.
Since Quantum and e4l have declared bankruptcy, there is no remedy
available. Consumers who own one of these grills, who are aware of any incidents with these grills, or
who want additional information should contact CPSC at (800) 638-2772
anytime. Vendors who are still selling these grills also are encouraged
to stop doing so and contact CPSC.
About 19,300 of these grills, sold directly by e4L, were recalled
in July 1998 because the burners could disconnect from the burner pan.
The firm received 21 reports of the burners on these grills
disconnecting and one consumer suffered burns. Even if consumers
participated in this previous recall program, they should stop using
these grills since this warning addresses a different hazard.