Menards Pre-Lit Christmas Tree Recall Issued Due to Risk of Fires, Burns

Following reports of pre-lit christmas trees sold at Menards overheating, a recall is being issued just days before Christmas due to the potential risk of fires and burns the artificial trees may pose.

The Menards Christmas tree recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on December 16, after at least two reports of the tree’s light strings overheating, melting, or smoking.

Although there are no reports of injury or serious property damage, the regulatory agency indicates that the fake christmas trees may pose a fire or burn hazard.

The recall includes about 1,800 Twinkling Pine pre-lit artificial Christmas trees marketed under the Enchanted Forrest brand with model number 287-1261 and UPC code 741895425478. The trees are green and are mounted on a green metal stand measuring roughly 7 ½ feet tall and have 400 champagne-colored slow twinkling LED lights.

The trees were manufactured in China under Seasonal Specialties LLC, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota where they were sold exclusively at Menards stores nationwide and online at www.menards.com from September 2013 through November 2013 for about $300.

A recent study by the National Fire Prevention Association found that one in 18 home Christmas tree fires from 2005 to 2009 resulted in a death, compared with one in every 141 home fires. Both real and plastic Christmas trees can provide fuel for the trees to burn quickly, allowing the fire to spread quickly throughout the home.

The CPSC recommends that consumers unplug the trees immediately and return it to Menards for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Menards at (800) 353-3116 or visit them online at www.seasonalspecialties.com and navigate to the ‘Recall Information” link at the bottom of the page.