People rely on smoke alarms to warn them and save lives if a fire breaks out. Thus, companies that make these devices have a legal responsibility to ensure their products activate in the event of a fire hazard. They must also comply with the safety ordinances set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This federal safety agency requires companies to regularly test all their products in real-world scenarios where they’ll likely be used.
If a smoke alarm has a design fault that hinders it from warning of a fire hazard early on when there are smoke contaminants in the air, that could be grounds for a lawsuit. A smoke detector that doesn’t identify smoke contaminants is extremely dangerous. Many of those who die from fires and injuries caused or related to fires don’t die from the actual exposure to the fire. They die because of prolonged smoke inhalation. Thus, it’s fundamental that smoke alarms warn consumers as early as possible, even when the air is only contaminated with small amounts of smoke.
CPSC Findings: Smoke Sensitivity Tests Reveal Alarming Results
Three61 has recalled 328,000 smoke detectors because they don’t sound to alert consumers to a fire hazard.
This Three61 smoke alarm recall was announced on January 16, 2025. Before the recall, the company had sold nearly 320,000 units. The alarms were sold mainly by HSN, formerly Home Shopping Network.
A CPSC recall notice reports that these smoke detectors can break down and may not alert consumers to a fire hazard. The CSPC smoke alarm recall notice also notes that this presents the threat of inhaling smoke and even death.
Additionally, the notice reports that Three61, the company that imports these smoke alarms from China, has received multiple reports of them not sounding when air is contaminated by smoke. According to the same notice from the federal safety agency, no other physical injuries were reported.
After performing smoke sensitivity tests, the CPSC found that at least one of the smoke alarms tested did not sound when exposed to smoke contaminants.
According to Three61, eight reports show that these detectors don’t trigger when exposed to smoke contaminants, but no injuries or deaths have occurred so far in relation to this flaw.
Three61 Issues Massive Recall of 328,000 Samurai Mini Smoke Alarms
The massive withdrawal included nearly 328,000 smoke alarms with serial number SM1. The serial number is listed on the packaging. These smoke detectors are silver plastic and white.
The Samurai mini smoke alarm model SM1 was sold in packages of two and three, and they came with adhesive stickers, lithium-ion batteries, mounting plates, instruction manuals, and screws.
Between July 2020 and November 2024, these Samurai mini smoke detectors were sold nationally via HSN.com and HSN. They cost between $40 and $50, depending on the quantity bought. The alarms were recalled on January 16, 2025.
How to Obtain a Free Replacement for Your Recalled Smoke Detector
You must immediately contact Three61 to get your recalled alarm replaced for free. To register for a free replacement for your recalled Samurai Mini smoke alarm, you must:
- Write “recalled” with waterproof ink on your Samurai mini smoke alarm.
- Submit a picture of the marked alarm and your contact information at www.Samuraibrands.com/recall.
After registering, Three61 will immediately ship the replacement smoke detector.
You should keep the faulty smoke detector installed until you receive the replacement smoke detector. Also, ensure you install the replacement detectors immediately after receiving them.
Steps to Take: Keeping Your Home Safe During the Recall Process
After the HSN smoke detector recall 2025, the safest thing to do is to immediately contact Three61, the company that ships these smoke alarms from China, to receive a free replacement smoke detector. Continue using your existing smoke detector until you install the replacement alarm. This will maintain safety in your home as you wait for the replacement alarm to arrive.
Proper Disposal of Recalled Smoke Alarms and Lithium-Ion Batteries
The most common smoke detector is an ionization detector containing a minute amount of Americium 241, a synthetic isotope that emits alpha and gamma rays. The Americium 241 is covered by a metal chamber within the plastic casing of the smoke detector. On your walls, this material poses minimal danger. But when the alarm is disassembled or broken open in a landfill, it may pose a huge health hazard. Thus, the law requires all smoke detectors to be labeled as having radioactive content.
There are two fundamental ways to dispose of your recalled smoke alarm:
- Disposing of an ionization smoke alarm in the trash is legal, but ensure you remove the battery first.
- Return the alarm to the manufacturer. The Nuclear Regulatory Law 10 CFR 32.27 mandates that smoke alarm manufacturers must ensure that radioactive waste is discarded at a nuclear waste disposal facility. When returning your smoke alarm, remove the batteries, and don’t dissemble the alarm in any way. Also, include a note stating that the smoke detector is intended for disposal. In the case of the Samurai mini smoke alarm model SM1, you can either return it to HSN or Three61.
Additionally, according to local and state regulations, dispose of the lithium-ion batteries in your recalled smoke alarm. Follow the instructions specified by your municipal recycling center to discard faulty or recalled lithium-ion batteries. You must handle and dispose of these potentially hazardous batteries differently than other batteries.
Don’t throw faulty or recalled batteries in the garbage or dump them in used battery recycling boxes located at home improvement and retail stores. Instead, you should take them to separate household hazardous waste or recycling collection points.
Tape battery terminals and place lithium batteries in separate plastic bags to avoid fire hazards.
HSN’s Role in the Distribution of Recalled Smoke Alarms
HSN sold and distributed the smoke alarms nationally and online between July 2020 and November 2024 for $40 and $50, depending on the quantities one bought.
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