SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20210709-6F895-2147363004. Severity: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional. Product: Akorn Jr. E86714 (Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Charcoal Grill Model #: E56714, E86714, E36714). Incident: The manufacturer, Char-Griller, stated in an email that the reason why their Akorn Jr. charcoal grill caught fire and melted was because the grill exceeded its intended temperature. Amazon.com has stopped selling this model grill due to safety concerns and not due to a lack of inventory. On 7/4/2021 during normal operation of the grill, the grill caught fire released toxic chemicals and partially fused into my deck. We were fortunate that I was outside putting the hot dogs and corn on the grill when I smelled a noxious odor moments before the grill caught on fire. � The grill�s ash pan and fire bowl emptied of any ash or residue as instructed on page C-4 of the Akorn Jr. instruction manual. � Standard hard lump charcoal was used, ignited with a single [REDACTED] paraffin wax lighter cube. � The grill�s vents were opened as instructed on page C-2 of the Akorn Jr. instruction manual. � Hard lump coal was placed in the center of the fire grate as described on page C-3 of the Akorn Jr. instruction manual. � The grill temperature did not exceed 600 degrees Fahrenheit when the unit began to melt and formed a toxic residue damaging my deck. The thermometer on the grill reaches 700 degrees Fahrenheit. � The product was significantly damaged and is unusable after it caught fire. � Damage was sustained to the grill itself and my deck I was able to extinguish the flames using the garden hose.