Massachusetts Personal Injury News
Can Refrigerators Cause Fire?
Yes, defective refrigerators can cause fire.
Last year the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled 1.6 million Maytag refrigerators due to a fire hazard.
The CPSC and Maytag Corporation of Newton, Iowa issued the recall because an electrical failure in the refrigerator’s relay posed a risk of fire. The relay is the component that engages the refrigerator’s compressor.
According to the CPSC report, an electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator’s compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard. Maytag received 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.
Check your refrigerator for the recalled models at the CPSC website.
