9 Reported Deaths in Total; Consumers Urged to Stop Use of Flammable Wearing Chenille Apparel Due to Burn Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Blair LLC, of Warren, Pa., are expanding Blair’s voluntary recall of women’s full length chenille robes to include additional chenille robes and three other chenille products all manufactured by A-One Textile & Towel. CPSC and Blair also are re-announcing the earlier recall of women’s robes.

In April 2009, Blair recalled 162,000 chenille robes after it learned of three robes catching on fire, including one report of second degree burns. Blair then received several reports of deaths allegedly due to robes catching fire. This prompted a second news release in June 2009 to again alert consumers to the burn hazard for the chenille robes. After this re-announcement, Blair received four additional reports of deaths allegedly due to the robes catching fire. Three of these victims were cooking and a fourth was tending a pellet stove; three of the four victims were in their 80s and one was in her 70s. All nine reported deaths occurred prior to the April 2009 announcement of the recall.

Blair has received one report involving one of the additional garments described below catching fire; no injuries have been reported related to these garments. Blair decided to expand the recall to include all women’s chenille wearing apparel manufactured by A-One Textile & Towel.

Name of Products: Full Length Women’s Chenille Robes, Women’s Chenille Jacket, Women’s Chenille Lounge Jacket, Women’s Chenille Top

Units: About 138,000; 162,000 units were previously recalled in April 2009

Manufacturer: CA-One Textile & Towel, of Karachi, Pakistan. A-One Textile & Towel manufactured all of the products recalled in April 2009. Blair is expanding its recall to all women’s chenille wearing apparel manufactured by A-One.

Retailer: Blair LLC, of Warren, Pa.

Hazard: Some of these products fail to meet the federal flammability standard and present a risk of serious burns to consumers if the garments are exposed to an open flame.

Incidents/Injuries: Since announcing the recall in April 2009, Blair has received nine reports of deaths allegedly due to the originally recalled robes catching fire. Blair has received one report on one of the additional garments catching fire; no injuries have been reported.