New South Wales Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe today issued a warning on a dangerous gas cabinet heater that has been the subject of repeated warnings from Fair Trading and that caused a devastating fire in East Gosford last year. See photographs below.
The Commissioner said he was concerned about lives being lost this winter. In the past week Fair Trading has requested eBay remove the dangerous heaters from its site. Fair Trading has also been sent information about the heaters being on sale in Sydney shops.
“I hold grave fears for anyone using the heaters, which were banned by Fair Trading in 2010,” Mr Stowe said.
“People should not use these heaters. In July last year, one of these heaters caused a major fire that destroyed a home in East Gosford and it could easily have claimed the life of the occupant.
“The heater was one of three purchased from a trader at a large Sydney market. NSW Fire and Rescue advised Fair Trading the gas hose and fitting appeared to have malfunctioned.”
Commissioner Stowe said the heaters were renowned for the malfunction and he said anyone in NSW or anywhere else in the country who had bought one needed to stop using it and take it back for a refund.
“If you have one of these call Fair Trading on 13 32 20 in NSW or in your state or territory,” he said. “Anywhere in Australia, if you are still using this heater, stop using it and alert authorities.”
Mr Stowe said in 2010, a home owner with one of the heaters was unable to turn the heater off at the shut off valve.
“It is marketed as a room heater but it is totally unsafe,” he said. The heaters have previously been sold on eBay and elsewhere online.
“Fair Trading is monitoring websites, markets and shops as part of its ongoing investigation into this product,” Mr Stowe said.
“Anyone who has one of these heaters or knows where they are being sold should contact Fair Trading on 13 32 20.”
For information about gas safety go to the Fair Trading website. For information about home fire safety go to: www.fire.nsw.gov.au and www.homefiresafetyaudit.com
Follow Fair Trading on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FairTradingNSW and Twitter at: twitter.com/NSW_FairTrading
Above: Dangerous gas cabinet heater in a Sydney shop (June 15 2013)
Above: Photos of gas cabinet heaters on eBay
Contact details
NSW Fair trading enquiries: 13 32 20