Crime & Safety

PGFD Demonstrates the Dangers of Ceramic Pots on GMA

Acting Fire Chief Marc Bashoor demonstrated the danger of these repellents.

Marc Bashoor, acting fire chief for the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, was on ABC's Good Morning America early Monday morning and spoke about the dangers of ceramic fire pots that burn gel fuel.

The ceramic fire pots are used to repel insects. But last month a Long Island, NY, teen was burned when the flammable gel splattered from a ceramic fire pot that exploded. Now he's fighting for his life.

The product that is at the center of this tragedy, as well as two others, is the FireBurners Ceramic Pot with fire gel fuel, both made by NAPA Home & Garden, according to GMA. The company issued a press release on June 12announcing "it will issue a precautionary hold on sales of its gel burners and gel fuel in response to recent reports of injuries from its gel burner products."

Find out what's happening in Laurelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A live demo by county firefighters illustrated how quickly a T-shirt ignited from the flames of a burning ceramic gel pot.

Bashoor said that these products can go by many different labels, adding, "It's still basically a gasoline type of a fuel that's starting a fire."

Find out what's happening in Laurelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

To view this morning's segment, click on this link (video will begin after a short delay). 


 


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