Holiday Candle Lights (Willis) – electrical safety (1993)

Check Your Product

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Reason for Recall

As stated by CPSC

DECEMBER 1, 1993 Release # 94-015 PRODUCT: Holiday electric candle decorations with either three bulbs or a single bulb, manufactured by Willis Mfg. and sold at Kmart during the 1992 Christmas season. The affected single and three candle units are improperly wired. The three candle units may also have improperly aligned metal contact tabs. PROBLEM: The improper wiring could cause a shock hazard. The improperly aligned contact tabs will immediately short circuit and present a potential fire, thermal burn or shock hazard to users. WHAT TO DO: Do not attempt to repair defective units. Take them back to any Kmart store for a free refund or replacement.. WASHINGTON, DC -- Kmart Corporation, of Troy, MI, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urge consumers who bought holiday candle lights called "Candoliers" from Kmart during the 1992 holiday season to return the lights to any Kmart store for a full refund or replacement. The Candoliers may be improperly wired; three-light Candoliers may also have improperly aligned metal contact tabs. The improper wiring and alignment could lead to shock, thermal burn, or fire. The Candoliers came in single and three-lights. The single-light Candoliers were packaged in a plastic bag with a cardboard package top reading "Single Candolier." The candle lights are about 11 inches high. They have an off-white plastic stem and base, and either a clear or an orange bulb. Single- light Candoliers sold at Kmart for $.99 each. Three-light Candoliers were packaged in a cardboard box. The stems and base are off-white molded plastic. The outer two candles are six inches high and the center candle is seven inches high. The three-light Candoliers were packaged with either clear or orange bulbs. They sold at Kmart for $4.59 each. To avoid injury, Kmart is recalling all affected products. Candoliers with improperly aligned metal contact tabs will immediately short circuit. If the household branch circuit breaker or fuse does not interrupt (trip) the circuit, the short circuit could create a fire, thermal burn, or electric shock hazard for anyone nearby or for anyone holding the product or its power cord. The Candoliers which have been improperly wired will continue to work but may present an electric shock hazard. Even if you have used your Candolier without it short- circuiting, you should discontinue use and return the product to any Kmart to prevent potential injury. All Candoliers sold during the 1992 holiday season are being recalled. Kmart reported two incidents to CPSC of Candoliers failing. Both incidents involved three-light Candoliers. One incident resulted in slight burns to a consumer's hand when the cord caught fire. Approximately 72,000 three-light Candoliers and approximately 292,400 single-light Candoliers were distributed during the 1992 holiday season. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as a part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction

Recommended Action

Per CPSC guidance

The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the product. Contact the manufacturer or return the product to the place of purchase.