Stop using these fire extinguishing balls, consumer safety agency says

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging people not to use Elide fire extinguishing balls, warning that the product may not suffocate fires – and could lead to injury or death.

A CPSC press release states the balls can “fail to effectively disperse fire retardant chemicals and fail to extinguish a fire.” They also don’t meet Underwriters Laboratories’ voluntary safety standards covering dry chemical fire extinguishers, as well as rating and fire testing of fire extinguishers.

Additionally, the product lacks numerous safety features, including:

• A pressure gauge or indicator
• A locking device to limit the risk of unintentional discharge
• A self-closing valve for intermittent discharge
• A nozzle to direct discharge

The CPSC warns against the use of all three models of the fire extinguishing balls: ELB01, ELB02-1 and ELB02-2. Consumers are encouraged to dispose of the products at the nearest fire department or hazardous waste disposal facility.

Elide hasn’t agreed to recall the products or offer a remedy to consumers, the advisory states.