SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20260814-36B5D-2147312447. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: Philips Philips EZGrip 3Outlet 8 ft IndoorOutdoor Ex (Philips EZGrip 3-Outlet 8 ft Indoor/Outdoor Extension Cord, Black, 16 AWG). Incident: On August 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 AM, I woke to repeated loud popping/crackling sounds coming from my backyard. When I looked outside, I observed flames against the exterior of my home coming from the area of a Philips EZGrip 3-Outlet 8 ft. Indoor/Outdoor Extension Cord. By the time I reached the back door, the popping had stopped and the flames had subsided. Upon inspection, one of the molded receptacles on the extension cord was severely burned and melted. The fire also left substantial black soot/fire residue on the exterior siding of the home directly above the failed receptacle. The extension cord was purchased on April 30, 2026 and was being used outdoors as advertised. The retailer identifies the product as an indoor/outdoor, heavy-duty extension cord. Following the incident, a licensed electrician inspected the exterior outlet, circuit, and electrical setup. He confirmed that I had not improperly used the equipment and determined that the extension cord itself had failed. He could not determine why the cord failed and stated that this should not have occurred. Fortunately, I woke up and discovered the fire before it spread further. No one was injured, but the failure resulted in open flame against the exterior of an occupied residence and created a significant potential structure-fire hazard. I have retained the failed extension cord, photographs of the burned/melted receptacle and resulting soot/fire damage, and proof of purchase. I have also reported the incident to Jasco Products Company, the manufacturer/licensee of the Philips-branded product, for inves