WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Brinkmann Corporation, of Dallas, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 45,000 outdoor tabletop propane heaters. The heaters can emit high levels of carbon monoxide (CO), which poses a risk of CO poisoning to consumers.

Brinkmann received one report of a CO death involving the use of this outdoor heater inside of a camper.

The recalled Outdoor Tabletop Heaters are about 33 inches tall and operate with a disposable 1 lb. propane tank, commonly sold in outdoor and camping stores. The base of the heater has a label that reads "BRINKMANN OUTDOOR TABLETOP HEATER" and has the model number 883-1000-0. The heater also has `mood lighting` around the base that is battery operated. These heaters were manufactured in China.

Retailers, including Wal-Mart, Menards, and Galyan`s, sold these heaters from September 2001 through May 2002 at a range of prices up to $100, depending on the retail location.

Consumers should stop using the heaters immediately and call Brinkmann at (800) 675-5301 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday to receive a full refund.

To see a picture of the recalled product(s) and/or to establish a link from your web site to this press release on CPSC`s web site, link to the following address: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml02/02181.html. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency`s jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC`s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC`s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC`s web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. For information on CPSC`s fax-on-demand service, call the above numbers or visit the web site at http://cpsc.gov/about/who.html. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC`s web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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CPSC, The Brinkmann Corporation Announce Recall of Outdoor Solar Lights

WASHINGTON, D.C.– In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Brinkmann Corporation, of Dallas, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 79,000 outdoor solar lights for repair. The beveled lens on the solar light can act as a magnifying glass. When sunlight passes through the lens, nearby combustible materials, such as mulch or dry grass, can catch on fire.

CPSC and Brinkmann have received five reports of grass and mulch fires caused by these solar lights. No injuries have been reported.

The recall involves the outdoor Endura “Contempra” solar light with a beveled lens ring around the middle. The light is black and clear with a solar panel on top, and is mounted on a black stake. They were sold in single, two, four and six packs.

Home, hardware and discount department stores nationwide, as well as mail order catalogs, sold these solar lights from February 1998 through December 2000 for between $20 and $85.

Consumers should stop using the recalled solar lights immediately, and contact The Brinkmann Corporation at (800) 675-5301 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday to receive a free repair kit.

CPSC, Brinkmann Corp. Announce Recall Program To Provide Free Replacement Smoke Stack For "Smoke`n Pit" Cookers

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Brinkmann Corporation of Dallas, Texas is announcing a program to provide free replacement smokestacks for approximately 43,800 Smoke`N Pit cookers with straight vertical smokestacks. The cooker lid may fall suddenly, injuring consumers using the cooker.

Brinkmann is aware of approximately 15 injuries that resulted from a cooker lid coming down suddenly. Most of the injuries involved cuts and bruises to consumers` arms and hands.

Both the Smoke`N Pit Professional, models 805-2101-0 and 805-2101-1, and Smoke`N Pit Pitmaster, model 805-21-1-2, measure approximately 39" high. Both black steel cookers have straight, rather than angled, vertical smokestacks. The Smoke`N Pit Professional`s cooking chamber measures 34.5" long and 16.5" wide and has a 17" long firebox attached on the side. The Pitmaster measurements are the same but it does not have a fire box. Not all cookers have a manufacturer`s identification; any identification is located near the lid handle.

The majority of the cookers were sold nationwide between November 1992 and March 1994 at retail and hardware stores including various Wal-Mart, Service Merchandise and Ace Hardware stores. The Smoke`N Pit Professional sold for approximately $200 to $250 and the Pitmaster sold for approximately $100 to $130. The cookers were packaged in boxes labeled in part "Brinkmann Smoke`N Pit."

Consumers who own Smoke`N Pit Professional cookers or Smoke`N Pit Pitmasters should contact Brinkmann at (800) 675-5301 for assistance in determining whether their cookers are part of this corrective action. Brinkmann will send each consumer a free replacement smokestack which enables consumers to open the cooker lid further, thereby eliminating the potential lid stability concerns.

Brinkmann Provides Free Kit For Charcoal Water Smokers

Over a million Brinkmann and COOK`N CA`JUN charcoal water smokers distributed before 1993 have a hole in the charcoal pan that can, if used over a flammable surface like a wooden deck, cause a fire. Use over flammable surfaces is contrary to current warnings and instructions included with the smokers. In addition, some of the metal brackets holding the water pan and/or grills on these models have sharp edges that can cause cuts.

Today, Brinkmann, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced a program to give the owners of these charcoal water smokers a kit to close the hole and reduce the fire risk. The kit also contains redesigned brackets to replace the original ones. Although Brinkmann is fully confident in the safety and quality of its charcoal water smokers, Brinkmann is voluntarily participating in this program to help prevent injuries.

According to Brinkmann, charcoal water smokers typically have a charcoal pan with a hole in it, a water pan in the middle of the unit, and grills for food on the water pan and at the top. CPSC is investigating other brands of charcoal water smokers that may present a similar risk of fire. CPSC views all charcoal water smokers that use exposed charcoal pans with holes that may allow coals to fall out of the smoker as a potential fire risk, and is seeking corrective action from other companies. CPSC will announce these actions at the earliest possible time.

Since 1974, Brinkmann has recorded approximately 10 claims of fires allegedly involving holes in the charcoal pan of Brinkmann smokers and 6 claims of cuts allegedly involving the brackets of these charcoal water smokers.

To identify your charcoal water smoker, look for the names "Brinkmann" or "COOK`N CA`JUN" on the top or body of the smoker. If either of these names appear, check the charcoal pan at the bottom. If the pan has a hole, it is involved in this program. Only Brinkmann and COOK`N CA`JUN water smokers manufactured before 1993 are included in this program. These water smokers were sold by major retailers nationwide. Charcoal water smokers manufactured after 1993, as well as Brinkmann Gourmet and COOK`N CA`JUN S-80, and Brinkmann and COOK`N CA`JUN electric or gas water smokers are NOT included in this program. These other models either don`t have exposed charcoal pans or have no charcoal pan at all.

Call Brinkmann at (800) 675-5301 for a free modification kit to close the hole in the pan and to replace the sharp brackets.

Even after the hole is closed, to help reduce the risk of fire, do not operate the charcoal water smoker on or near flammable surfaces.