February
21, 2000
AmeriGas
Propane L.P., of Valley Forge, Pa., is recalling for inspection about 1,600
propane cylinders used to fuel gas grills and other appliances, which were sold
or exchanged at stores in Ohio. These cylinders could be overfilled, which can
cause them to release flammable propane gas unexpectedly, posing a risk of
fires and explosions.
On July 19, 2000, some AmeriGas overfilled cylinders vented propane and
ignited, causing an explosion at the AmeriGas plant in Willoughby, Ohio. As a
result, AmeriGas Propane L.P. recalled about 100 overfilled propane cylinders
distributed in the Detroit, Mich. area in July 2000. One worker suffered minor
burns. No consumer injuries have been reported.
These 20-pound AmeriGas propane cylinders are white, and at the time of
purchase, had a red, white and blue shrink-wrapped sleeve around them with the
names "AmeriGas," "Prefilled Propane Xchange" and
"PPX(r)" on them. Home center, hardware, grocery and convenience
stores and service stations sold or exchanged these propane cylinders in 19
northeast Ohio counties from December 2000 through February 15, 2001. The
cylinders sold for between $44 and $48, and cost about $14 to exchange. The
recalled cylinders were sold or exchanged in Ohio's Ashland, Ashtabula,
Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Lake, Lorain, Medina,
Mahoning, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne
counties.
Consumers who purchased or exchanged one of these AmeriGas propane cylinders
should not use their propane appliances, and should not disconnect or transport
the cylinder. Consumers should call the AmeriGas toll-free hotline immediately
at (888) 428-9779 anytime or check the AmeriGas website at www.amerigas.com
for instructions on getting their gas cylinder inspected, and replaced if
needed. An AmeriGas representative will contact the consumers to arrange for a
cylinder inspection and exchange it for a properly filled tank if necessary. Cylinders
bearing a blue ink six-digit code just below the collar beginning with the
letter X and ending with the number 7 are not included in this recall.
As a reminder to all consumers, propane cylinders should not be stored or used
indoors or in confined spaces. If you see, hear or smell leaking propane,
immediately move far away from the cylinder and call the fire department from
another location.