Ontario Fire Marshal Warns of Hazardous Dishwashers

Recent fire a timely reminder of hazardous dishwasher recall

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2013 /CNW/ - The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) is urging Ontario families to check the serial numbers of their dishwashers this evening after a recent fire investigation revealed the cause as being an electrical failure within a dishwasher, a product that had been recalled in 2010.  A Whitchurch Stouffville woman was seriously injured in the fire and is now recovering.

The OFMEM is urging Ontario families to be aware that these dishwashers can start a fire and that those with affected dishwashers should stop using them immediately and contact the distributor.

The original fire hazard recall was distributed by Maytag, Health Canada and the Electrical Safety Authority.  It includes Maytag®, Amana®, Jenn-Air®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand dishwashers with plastic tubs and certain serial numbers. The affected dishwashers were manufactured with black, bisque, white, silver and stainless steel front panels. The brand name is printed on the front of the dishwasher. The model and serial numbers are printed on a label located inside the plastic tub on a tag near the left side of the door opening. Serial numbers will start or end with one of the following sequences:

SERIAL number STARTING with	OR	SERIAL number ENDING with
NW39, NW40, NW41, NW42, NW43, NW44, NW45, NW46, NW47, NW48, NW49, NW50, NW51, NW52, NY01, NY02, NY03, NY04, NY05, NY06, NY07, NY08, NY09, NY10, NY11, NY12, NY13, NY14, NY15, NY16, NY17, NY18, NY19		JC, JE, JG, JJ, JL, JN, JP, JR, JT, JV, JX, LA, LC, LE, LG, LJ, LL, LN, LP, LR, LT, LV, LX, NA, NC, NE, NG, NJ, NL, NN, NP, NR

According to the product recall notice from the Electrical Safety Authority, an electrical failure in the dishwasher's heating element can pose a serious fire hazard.

Ontario families can further reduce the risk of injury in their homes by:

• Installing smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of the home.
• Developing and practising a home fire escape plan.
• Never re-enter a burning building. Once out, stay out.

To get more information about the recalls, visit https://repair.maytag.com/prjjck10/default.jsp?siteCd=RCU_EN_CA&id=R173BV or call Maytag at [phone].

To learn more about the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management visit www.ontario.ca/firemarshal.

SOURCE: Office of the Fire Marshal - Media Relations

Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, 416-325-3138