The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·74085·Announced 1974-12-18

CPSC Warns of Shock and Fire Hazards in Certain Christmas Lights

CPSC warned consumers to stop using approximately 300,000 sets of Kresge and Noma miniature Christmas lights due to electric shock and fire risks.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The source explicitly states the lights present a 'severe hazard of electric shock and fire' and notes a reported shock incident, fitting the rubric for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported as severe or fatal.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning on December 18, 1974, regarding approximately 300,000 sets of indoor-outdoor miniature Christmas lights sold nationwide over the previous two years. The affected products include Kresge brand lights sold in K-Mart, Kresge, and Jupiter stores, as well as Noma brand lights sold in small retail outlets. The lights were sold for between $2.00 and $5.00.

The recall was initiated because exposed metal contacts in the female end connector and loose or exposed bare wire connections create a severe hazard of electric shock and fire. The Commission was alerted to the hazard after a child in Chicago received an electric shock from the lights. Specific serial numbers for the possibly defective Kresge sets are 91-21, 91-23, 91-24, 91-25, 91-26, 91-27, 91-28, 91-40B, and 91-43. The Noma sets carry the numbers 3835, 3836, 3850, 3851, 3854, and 3856 on the box cover.

Consumers are urged to cease using these lights immediately and carefully disconnect them from electrical outlets. Noma will correct and repair all returned sets at no cost, while the Kresge Co. has stated it will refund the purchase price. The CPSC also urges consumers to check all their Christmas lights for similar hazards.

The recalled product

Product
CPSC Issues Warning On Certain Christmas Lites
Manufacturer
Jupiter
Category
Consumer Product — Seasonal Lights
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · electric shock

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