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Christmas Accessories Recalled

Certain Lights And Candles Found To Be Dangerous

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued recalls for four holiday products.

Snowman Holiday Porcelain Lanterns

LTD Commodities Inc., of Bannockburn, Ill., recalled about 33,000 snowman holiday porcelain lanterns.

The snowman lanterns can crack or catch fire due to excessive heat from the tealight candles, which poses a risk of injury to consumers. The company said it has received 18 reports of the snowman lanterns cracking or catching on fire, including one consumer who suffered a burn to her finger.

The lanterns have a product code number of HVO-MAN 102723-01, and have a label on the bottom of the snowman that reads in part, "WARNING: This item becomes extremely hot during use" and "MADE IN CHINA."

LTD Commodities sold these lanterns through their mail-order catalogs between September 2001 and November 2001 for about $4.

Consumers should stop using these lanterns immediately and contact LTD Commodities toll free at (866) 736-3654 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday for information about returning the product for a full refund.

Christmas Lights Sets

Flora-Lite Co., of Clearwater, Fla., recalled about 7,500 strings of Christmas lights. The lights' wires can be easily pulled out of the plugs and light sockets. The lights could pose electrocution and electric shock hazards to consumers and could pose a fire hazard.

The company has not reported any injuries or incidents associated with these Christmas lights.

The Rice Lights are 22 feet long with 140 non replaceable miniature lights on each string. They have multicolor bulbs with green wire, clear bulbs with white wire, or clear bulbs with green wire. The fused plug reads "TING SHEN," and "TS-20." The lights have a push-button control box that allows for eight different lighting effects, including "CHASING FLASH," SLOW FADE" and STEADY ON." There is no mark of an independent testing laboratory. The packaging is a green box that included the writing, "Rice Lights," "Flora-Lite Co., Clearwater, FL" and "Made in China."

Specialty garden stores nationwide sold these Christmas light sets from June 2001 through December 2001 for about $20.

Consumers should stop using these recalled light sets immediately and return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers should call Flora-Lite Co. at (800) 411-7381 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

Pine Tree Candles

Dillard's Inc., of Little Rock, Ark., recalled about 12,000 pine tree candles. The candles can collapse, causing the flame to spread and ignite decorative glitter and paint, which poses a fire hazard to consumers.

The company received one report of a candle that collapsed and spread the flame. No injuries or property damage were reported.

The candles come in two sizes, approximately 9 1/2 inches tall and 6 inches wide, and approximately 8 inches tall and 5 1/2 inches wide. A label on the side of both candles reads "Noble Excellence." There is also a sticker on the bottom of the tall candle that reads "127CD109," and a sticker on the bottom of the short candle that reads "127CD108."

Dillard's stores nationwide sold the candles from Oct. 20, 2001 through Dec. 12, 2001 for between $12 and $15.

Consumers should stop using these candles immediately and return them to any Dillard's store for a full refund. For more information, call Dillard's at (800) 235-9660 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

Candele Glitter Candles

Walgreen Co., of Deerfield, Ill., recalled about 50,500 Candele glitter candles. The glitter on the candles can ignite, posing a fire hazard.

Walgreens received one report of the glitter on the candle catching fire. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

The pillar candles were sold in two sizes, 3 -inches high and 6 inches high. The candles are coated with glitter and come in three colors - red, green and gold. The recalled candles have one of the following item numbers printed on a label affixed to the bottom of the candle: 642413, 642423, 642424, 642409, 642410, and 642411.

Walgreens stores nationwide sold the candles from August 2001 through December 2001 for between $3 and $4.

Consumers should stop using the candles immediately and contact Walgreens for a refund. For more information, consumers should contact Walgreens toll free at (866) 241-0105 between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2001