The government is warning people to immediately stop using a fire-extinguishing device shaped like a ball.
Elide Fire-Extinguishing Ball (Photo provided by CPSC)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says Elide fire-extinguishing balls can fail to extinguish a fire, leaving people at risk of injury and death.
However, the CPSC says Elide Fire USA has not agreed to recall the balls or help customers with a fix for the products.
According to ElideFireUS.com, the ball activates by itself within seconds of flames touching it. The ball breaks open and dispenses a dry chemical to extinguish a fire.
The CPSC says the products can fail to effectively disperse the chemicals and fail to put out fires. It says the balls do not have a pressure gauge or pressure indicator, a locking device to reduce unintentional discharge, or a nozzle to direct the discharge.
The CPSC says the Elide Fire Ball does not meet the requirements of UL 299 Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers and UL 711 Rating and Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishers, which are voluntary safety standards.
The company says its product is not a fire extinguisher, so measuring it against the fire extinguisher standards is not a fair measure because its product will ultimately fail in that testing scenario.
The Fire Ball was created to bring an additional line of fire protection to any potential fire situation. When it is mounted in a higher-risk area, he says it can stop a small fire from becoming a large fire.
According to the government, Elide Fire USA sells three models of fire-extinguishing balls. Models ELB01 and ELB02-1 are red. Model ELB02-02 is blue. The products sold for between $95 and $120. The CPSC says its warning is for all three models.
A CPSC news release urges consumers not to buy or sell the fire-extinguishing balls. If you already have the fire-extinguishing balls, the CPSC says to take them to a local fire department or a hazardous waste disposal facility.
The government says people should only buy fire extinguishers that meet the UL 299 and UL 711 safety standards and are marked with those certifications.
Rob Miller has been selected as the new Fire Chief for the City of Carbondale.
He joined the Carbondale Fire Department as a firefighter in 1998, was upgraded to an arson investigator in 2006, and promoted to captain in 2018. Later that year Miller was promoted again, this time to assistant chief.
Before transitioning his career in Carbondale, Miller was a police officer in DeSoto for three years.
He will start as chief on April 15, 2024, following the retirement of Chief Mike Hertz.
They got to try on firefighting gear, practiced some safety drills, and met real-life firefighters and other women in leadership roles.
The girls checked out a mobile simulation lab and learned how to use fire hoses. Girls, Inc. offers a wide range of programs. The group aims to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
We are excited to introduce our latest addition – a 107′ aerial from Pierce. Today, Widaman Sign completed the decals, and it looks fantastic. Next, the aerial will undergo upgrades for new radios and emergency lighting before it returns for final training and deployment.
Ladder 72 will be at station 72 in the industrial park and will play a vital role in our operational strategy for the next 10-15 years. Serving as our truck company, it will carry many items including heavy-duty extrication tools. Additionally, it will be ALS equipped and staffed with firefighter/paramedics.
We extend our gratitude to our Board of Trustees for making this purchase possible.
Two firefighters are recovering from minor injuries they sustained while battling a house fire on Monday, the second of the day for the Danville Fire Department.
The fire happened close to the dead end of Short Street at 4:30 p.m. While en route, firefighters received reports that someone might still be inside. On arrival, they found the rear of a one-story home fully engulfed, with flames extending 20 feet into the air.
Facing high heat and intense fire, firefighters searched the parts of the home that were not yet on fire. No one was found.
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control using multiple hose lines, despite high winds hampering their efforts. Ameren also assisted by removing a live power line that was connected to the home.
Firefighters remained on the scene until 6:48 p.m.
Earlier in the day, firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire on Buchanan Street. That fire damaged a garage and a car, but no one was hurt.
The Danville Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire. Anyone who has information regarding this fire is asked to call the DFD at 217-431-2350.
