WASHINGTON (AP) - It's patio season, and the government is warning about outdoor ceramic pots known as firepots, following two serious burn accidents in New York.
The warning Tuesday from the agency that regulates thousands of consumer products comes after reports of two incidents in the last few weeks in which firepots exploded in flames as someone was pouring a gel-like fuel into them. Both victims, a teenager and a man in his 20s, suffered serious injuries.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission's warning also cautions about tiki torches and the fuels used in them.
"CPSC staff want all consumers to stay safe this summer by never pouring the fuel into an already lit firepot or tiki torch," said Scott Wolfson, chief spokesman at the safety commission.