May 24, 2002
CPSC Issues Warning About Hazardous Red Devil Gas Grills

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about 155,000 Red Devil gas grills manufactured by e4L Inc., of Encino, Calif., and, Quantum North America Inc., of Encino, Calif. The product's design allows consumers to light the grill at an air intake tube, instead of at the burner. Though the grill appears to function normally, gas inside the air intake tube ignites. The tube can reach temperatures of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit and present a burn hazard to consumers. In some earlier grills, the heat produced by lighting the grill at the air intake tube damaged the plastic support piece, and caused the grill to fall to the ground. When it collapses, flames from the grill can burn nearby consumers and ignite surrounding combustibles.

There have been 44 reports of consumers suffering burns to legs, hands and fingers, including reports of some third degree burns, after the grills collapsed during use. More than 1,000 consumers returned their grills to the manufacturers because the grills collapsed.

These red metal gas grills have a tripod stand. They have a logo on the label of the lid and grill base showing a devil cooking at a grill with the writing, "Red Devil." The lid also reads "The Portable Outdoor Kitchen." The black plastic base, above the tripod, reads "QUANTUM HOMEWARES." Components sold with the grill include a heat plate, an oversized skillet with handles, a table-safe serving trivet, and carrying totes. They were manufactured in Hong Kong. Quantum and e4L sold these grills directly to consumers through television infomercials from about May 1998 through January 1999 for about $160. Department and specialty stores, television retailers and web sites sold additional grills.

CPSC sued e4L Inc. and Quantum North America Inc. to obtain a recall, and an administrative law judge granted CPSC a default judgment when these manufacturers failed to appear. The firms are liquidating their assets under bankruptcy law. Both the Home Shopping Network (HSN) and QVC voluntarily notified their customers directly about the hazard these grills pose, and provided a remedy.

Grills purchased from retailers other than the HSN and QVC are dangerous, and CPSC urges consumers to stop using them immediately. Since Quantum and e4l have declared bankruptcy, there is no remedy available. Consumers should dispose of these grills to prevent further injuries. Consumers who are aware of any incidents with these grills or who want additional information should contact CPSC at (800) 638-2772 anytime. Vendors who are still selling these grills also are encouraged to stop doing so and contact CPSC.

About 19,300 of these grills, sold directly by e4L, were recalled in July 1998 because the burners could disconnect from the burner pan. The firm received 21 reports of the burners on these grills disconnecting and one consumer suffered burns. Even if consumers participated in this previous recall program, they should stop using these grills since this warning addresses a different hazard.