When you think about fire hazards, knives used to cut fish fillets aren’t the first thing to come to mind. But, a company called Rapala is recalling more than 100,000 of its Rechargeable Fillet Knives because they pose a fire hazard. According to news reports, Rapala has worked with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to voluntarily recall about 128,000 of these knives because the battery on older-model rechargeable fillet knives could overheat and potentially catch fire.
Recall Details
So far, RapalaUSA has received reports of batteries on older knives catching fire when being recharged with charging devices other than those supplied with the knife, the brand said on its recall page. CPSC said there have been 12 instances of batteries overheating and catching fire, but no injuries.
To remedy this problem, Rapala will replace the batteries on the affected models. But, the company notes that consumers should always use the manufacturer-supplied charging device with its knives adding that doing so “will ensure proper charging and…avoid damage.” This recall includes only Rapala Rechargeable Fillet Knives without a white ETL label printed on the battery. Consumers can locate the label in question by removing the battery.
The knives were sold for $101 at Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Fleet Farm, online at Rapala.com and at other sporting goods stores nationwide from March 2011 through December 2018. The knife handles are black and gray with the Rapala logo printed in red along with the word “ION” in white. If you have a recalled knife, you would be eligible for a free replacement battery by emailing [email protected].
Product Liability Issues
Manufacturers of all products have a legal obligation to make safe items for consumers to use. We have seen a number of products powered by lithium-ion batteries unexpectedly explode or catch fire such as e-cigarettes, vaping pens or hoverboards. These rechargeable knives with lithium-ion batteries are the latest to report similar incidents.
If a dangerous or defective product has injured you or a loved one, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitative treatment, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced product defect lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://gearjunkie.com/rapala-rechargeable-fillet-knife-recall
