15M Surge Protectors Recalled for Fire Hazard

APC Surge protectors are being recalled as a fire hazard, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The company has gotten 700 reports of overheating and melting surge protectors and 55 reports of property damage from smoke and fire, according to the CPSC.

The surge protectors were sold at Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, and other stores nationwide from January 1993 through December 2002 for between $13 and $50.

This recall involves APC 7 and 8 series SurgeArrest surge protectors manufactured before 2003. The model and serial numbers are located on a label on the bottom of the surge protector. The two numbers that follow the first letter or letters in the serial number sequence indicate the year of manufacture. The unit is included in the recall if the numbers are 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01 or 02. APC and the words Personal, Professional, Performance or Network are printed on the surge protectors.

The following model numbers (about 15 million units total) are included in this recall.

7 Series model numbers

• NET7
• NET7T
• NET7T-C
• PER7  
• PER7C
• PER7T
• PER7T-CO
• PER7T-U
• PER7TX137
• PER7-U
• PER7X148
• PRF7  
• PRF7T
• PRO7
• PRO7C
• PRO7T
• PRO7TX183

• NET8
• NET8N
• PER8T           
• PER8TR
• PER8TR-CN
• PER8TVR
• PER8XTV
• PRF8T2
• PRF8TT
• PRO8
• PRO8T2
• PRO8T2C
• PRO8T2MP12
• PRO8T2MP12B        
• PRO8TV