SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20130427-E989F-2147456600. Severity: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received. Matched catalog product: Ryobi Ryobi 40v battery and charger, purchased 5-10-2020.. Source model text: P113 Class 2 Battery Charger 140501013. Incident: One World Technologies Inc and CPSC issued a recall for Ryobi 1+ charge centers. It limited the recall to model P108 number 130429028. The recall should be expanded based on my experience with model P113 number 140501013. Description follows: My Ryobi battery charger began smoldering as I awaited a battery to recharge so I could finish weedwhacking my property. At first I smelled what resembled ammonia or urine as in when my dog had had an accident and lifted his leg to mark territory. Then I realized the odor that was by then burning my throat and causing a headache was more like that of a corroded battery compartment in a small unit like a flashlight. I approached my sitting room window seat where the charger was plugged in. The unit was smoking copiously and the odor very intense. I knew it was smoldering to catch fire but was more afraid it would explode. I am a 65-plus female homeowner living alone and cannot afford to be incapacitated. So despite my fear of explosion I opened a nearby window, unplugged the unit and gingerly tossed the hot object out the window onto the grass below. Several hours later, still fearing it might burst, I approached for a closer look. It was cooled off but I was unable to release the battery. It had fused to its compatible Ryobi charging unit. My local mechanic pried it apart and verified that the battery and charger were compatible based on the information printed on each. Home Depot would not hear of any compensation or replacement without