The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·95131·Announced 1995-06-08

Meco Charcoal Smokers Recall Issued for Fire Risk from Falling Coals

Meco is providing free fix kits for specific charcoal smoker models to prevent fires caused by hot coals falling through holes in the charcoal pan.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

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 recall addresses a risk-of-harm product (fire hazard) where injury has not yet been reported, aligning with the 'High' severity criteria for potential fire risks without confirmed casualties.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Meco Corporation announced a program to provide free fix kits for Meco brand charcoal smokers. The kits are designed to close a hole in the bottom of the charcoal pan, which reduces the risk of fire from hot coals falling through.

The program covers Meco Smokers and Grills with model numbers 5022-3, 5024-2, and 5025-2. Since 1983, Meco has sold approximately 253,000 of these units nationwide through wholesalers and retailers. The affected smokers feature a black charcoal pan with a hole, a metal water pan, and food grills. Meco is voluntarily participating in this program to help prevent potential fires, noting that using the smoker over a flammable surface is contrary to the included warnings and instructions.

Consumers should call Meco Corporation at (800) 251-7558 to request a free kit. To reduce the risk of fire, consumers should never operate charcoal water smokers on or near flammable surfaces, even after the hole in the pan is closed. CPSC is also investigating other brands of charcoal water smokers that may present a similar fire risk.

The recalled product

Product
Meco charcoal smokers
Manufacturer
Meco
Category
Consumer Product — Grills & Smokers
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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