InSinkErator #74300

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20180906-C894A-2147385708. Severity: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional. Product: InSinkErator #74300 (InSinkErator single-outlet SinkTop switch, model # 74300.). Incident: Upon attempting to extinguish a lit wooden skewer (-my only source of fire having been my gas stove which I used to light an evening dinner candle) and running the sink water to do so, as I placed the skewer under the water, a backlash of flames engulfed me and my pet bird whom I was holding. As the bird flew off to safety afar and my hand and arm were burned, I shuddered at what had just happened as I stood in my kitchen alone at night! I then medicated my burns with hydrocortisone, combed my slightly singed hair, attended to the bird, and retired for the night. Prior to sleep, I then searched the internet and found that InSinkErator and the US CPSC had announced a recall of single-outlet SinkTop switches manufactured by Mentor, Ohio-based Teemark and distributed by InSinkErator. These garbage disposal switches were recalled due to a fire hazard in March 2018 though "no injuries had been reported." Verifying that my model was one recalled (i.e. 74300), I somehow slept into the next day and shopped then to purchase two fire extinguishers -in cans- to replace my old expired extinguisher. The next day, September 6th, I went to our local Fire Department to explore their perspective on the situation and my experience. They had not heard of the problem but considered it of considerable concern and worth investigating. My concern is for basic safety and hazard remediation. This event could have been my demise and that of my pets and home. No-one would have know the cause. I am not abdicating until this product is on your highest priority recall list-and perhaps not even then! Ple