Nearly 5 million box fans sold under the “Lasko” and “Galaxy” brand names have been recalled after several fires were traced back to the fans’ motors.
The box fan recall was announced on March 24 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) after Lasko Products Inc., the manufacturer, indicated that at least seven reports of fire have been associated with the fans, including a barn fire and two house fires that caused extensive property damage.
The CPSC recall notice states that the fires are likely the result of an electrical failure in the fans’ motors which constitutes a fire hazard for consumers.
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Learn MoreThe fan recall affects about 4.8 million Lasko box fans with model numbers 3720, 2723 and 3733, as well as Galaxy box fans with model number 4733. The model numbers are located on the bottom of the fans. All of the affected fans will have a date of 2002-03 or 2003-04 stamped on the bottom of the metal frame. “Lasko” or “Galaxy” will be on the front fan plate.
The fans were sold as mass merchandisers nationwide from July 2002 through December 2005 for about $12 to $15.
This is the second major Lasko recall this year. In early February the company had to recall about 110,000 portable space heaters. Like the fans, those heaters had electrical defects which turned them into a fire hazard. There were dozens of reports of fires in connection with the recalled heaters.
The CPSC recommends that consumers immediately stop using the fans and contact Lasko to receive a free fused plug safety adapter. Consumers with questions can call Lasko at 1-877-445-1314 or visit their website at www.laskoproducts.com.
6 Comments
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MerrieAugust 29, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Laurie, Did you find out anything? We had a fire on 7.14.15 and would like to pursue for damages also. I'm wondering what you may have found out.
laurieJuly 25, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Hi john and helen. I have had the same issue with a fan. I am hoping to sue for damages as well. Can you guys update me on how your lawsuit went?
JohnJuly 22, 2013 at 4:27 pm
Our house burned down on sept 11th 2012 due to a Lasko box fan. State Farm is pursuing Lasko for all of our damages. I need to find someone who will represent us for all the things that cant be paid for. we had injuries and lost work and we are just now getting back in our home. To top it off the fire restoration company that was holding all of our things that were saved in the Lasko fire burned t[Show More]Our house burned down on sept 11th 2012 due to a Lasko box fan. State Farm is pursuing Lasko for all of our damages. I need to find someone who will represent us for all the things that cant be paid for. we had injuries and lost work and we are just now getting back in our home. To top it off the fire restoration company that was holding all of our things that were saved in the Lasko fire burned to the ground 3 weeks before we were to move back in. We lost everything in this chain of events because of a cheep box fan.
HelenFebruary 1, 2013 at 6:43 am
My mother -inlaws house burned down in Nov. 2012 because of Lasko box fan and we are still waiting for something to be done. They just sent their inspector out so nothing can be done to the house because they are stalling. They knew about their unsafe fans and didn't do anything to it destroyed peoples lives. Thank God no one was hurt!
MonicaApril 19, 2012 at 12:08 am
I don't understand why they waited so long to make a recall when my house burned down in January more than two years ago. My home burned in the middle of the night while we were all sleeping because of a Lasko box fan. My family and I made it out safetly with nothing but the clothes on our backs and we are still dealing with the desvastation it caused.
LaurieMarch 25, 2011 at 6:02 pm
I'm relieved to see that not just the box fans, but also portable space heaters are being recalled. I have had a long-standing campaign going on through my website, www.firesafetyinbarns.com, to have barn owners and managers stop using any and all residential box fans in their facilities. And, every winter the number of confined animals killed in barn fires due to the misuse or unattendance while[Show More]I'm relieved to see that not just the box fans, but also portable space heaters are being recalled. I have had a long-standing campaign going on through my website, www.firesafetyinbarns.com, to have barn owners and managers stop using any and all residential box fans in their facilities. And, every winter the number of confined animals killed in barn fires due to the misuse or unattendance while in use, of portable heaters, rises dramatically. I maintain a running chart of these losses on the website. Misuse of electrical appliances and malfunctioning electrical equipment are the major causes of preventable fires in livestock facilities, including the massive lives lost in factory fires.