Dollar Tree solid room deodorizers or fresheners

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. First aid

   Made Jan 31, 2016 · , sent to the company Feb 9, 2016 · , published by CPSC Mar 2, 2016

   The product, in the report: Aromatic Wax Warmer

   Please see below letter that I emailed to the Corporate Secretary of the Dollar Tree. I have copied and pasted the letter into the body of this incident description. The email that I sent to the secretary also included 6 pictures of the fire damage caused by the Dollar Tree product. I have not received a response from Dollar Tree Corporate. I sent the email and pictures one week ago.

   Corporate Secretary Dollar Tree, Inc. 500 Volvo Parkway Chesapeake, VA 23320 United States [REDACTED] RE: Aromatic Wax Warmer Purchased From Dollar Tree Store #2634 Attn. Merchandising Manager: My husband, [REDACTED], purchased an aromatic wax warmer from a local Dollar Tree store in Tucson, Arizona. As the attached pictures depict, the small ceramic unit is meant to hold a tea light which when lit heats a scented wax cube. The warmer came with one cautionary sticker adhered to it. The sticker warned to fit a proportionately sized candle into the warmer. I am unable to provide the direct quote because the sticker has been peeled of. However, I do recall that the product’s only safety advisory was in reference to using a smaller candle, such a tea light; as opposed to a slightly larger candle, such as a votive. The warmer was kept in our guest bathroom that is located in the front of our house. I recently lit a tea light in the lower portion of the warmer and placed one cube of “[REDACTED]” brand scented wax on the upper portion of the unit. Approximately one half of an hour later, I went to the back of our house to take a shower in our master bath. Luckily, [REDACTED] was home that day. He was spending most of his time outside, however, he did make several trips in and out of the house. On the course of one of his trips, he thought that he smelled something burning. He came into the back bathroom to ask me if I had anything in the oven to which I replied no, I did not. Soon after, my husband came back and insisted that he smelled something burning. I thought it over again, and relayed that I was melting a wax cube in the warmer, however, this couldn’t possibly be the source of his concern. I never imagined that a tea light, contained within a ventilated ceramic warmer, had such hazardous potential. I have lit hundreds of tea lights with no incident. In rare circumstance, it has even been necessary for me to burn the candles straight from the plastic packaging, as they are in the metal casing (I was living in Southern Connecticut during the time that Hurricane Sandy hit). Thank God that [REDACTED] went to investigate. When he looked in the front bathroom , he saw that a fire had began. [REDACTED] first instinct was to smother the fire, so he grabbed for a damp washcloth that happened to be lying on the opposite end of the counter. The moisture from the washcloth made the flames even mores uncontainable. It is common knowledge that in a kitchen fire, for example, to never add water to an oil fire. However, I certainly can see how scented wax wouldn’t necessarily equate to an oil fire scenario. Especially when acting fast and on first instinct. Candles are made of wax and they don’t burst into flames. Again, I am so grateful that my husband was home and extinguished the fire before it managed to spread. His hand was burned in the process, but he refused a visit to the ER. Since the incident, [REDACTED] hand is nearly 100% healed. I don’t know how long it would have taken me to realize that a fire was igniting due to the fact that I was taking a shower in the back of the house with the door closed. In my opinion these wax heaters should not be sold to the public without some serious further consideration. Perhaps it is possible to redesign them, because I do not believe that they are safe as they are now. My guess is that reserve for the wax is too close to the flame of the candle. At the very least, the warmers should come with more precautionary warnings. For instance, I happen to be referring to them as “wax warmers.” I am not sure what The Dollar Tree references them as, but if a consumer assumes that they are essential oil burners, that could be very dangerous. Even the old standby “never leave your candle unattended,” is better than nothing. However, we all know that no one is going to sit around staring at their scented wax melt all day. Please note, that I did not take the enclosed pictures until after I began cleaning up the area where the wax warmer caught on fire. The area was covered with soot before I first began to clean it. I also opened the cabinet door after the fire was extinguished. You can see that the smoke from the flames was entering into the cabinet despite the cabinet door being closed. Thank you for your time,

   [REDACTED]

   Model

   I don’t know

   Bought from

   Dollar Tree Store

   Bought

   Jan 2, 2016

   Where

   Tucson, Arizona: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 68, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Spouse

   As this report names them

   Brand I don’t know, made or sold by Dollar Tree

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources