CPSC Announces Recall of 145,000 First Alert® Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/CO Alarms for Rapidly Draining Battery Power

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Illinois, have announced the voluntary recall of approximately 145,890 First Alert® ONELINK™ Battery-Powered Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms manufactured in Mexico of which about 52,400 were sold to consumers.

The recalled alarms should be taken out of use as soon as possible by replacing them with properly functioning replacement alarms since the affected products can drain the power
from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit.

If the batteries on the smoke/CO alarm are not replaced before the battery power terminates, the alarm will not detect smoke in the event of a possible fire and the presence of carbon monoxide.

The CPSC and First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. have received about 329 reports of premature low battery power in these alarms. There have been no reports of injuries, incidents, or alarms failing to detect smoke or carbon monoxide.

The recall involves ONELINK™ battery-powered smoke and combination smoke/CO alarms. “First Alert” and “ONELINK™” are printed on the front of the alarm. The model number and date code are printed on the back of the alarm. Model number SA500 or SCO500 with a date code prior to March 3, 2006 are included in this recall.

The recalled alarms were sold at department, home and hardware stores nationwide from June 2005 through March 2006 for between $45 and $75.

Consumers should contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. immediately to receive a replacement alarm.

Until a new alarm is received, consumers should test the batteries in the alarm weekly by pressing the “test” button. If the alarm signals a low battery alert, consumers should immediately replace the batteries.

Consumers should not remove their alarms, however, until they have received a replacement alarm.

For more information, contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. at (800) 323-9005 between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s web site at http://www.firstalert.com/OnelinkRecall.aspx.