Popular $14 Kmart product bursts into flames without warning prompting dire warning from worried grandfather
A concerned grandfather is calling for a recall of a popular kitchen appliance sold at Kmart after it burst into flames without warning.
Nick Morgan’s bought the Anko 7-Cup rice cooker for $14 at the discount chain’s Chermside store in Brisbane, only to find it smoldering in his kitchen.
The device, which he had been using sparingly, caught fire at his North Brisbane home, which he shares with his daughter and eight-month-old granddaughter.
Mr Morgan said his daughter’s quick thinking saved the family’s entire home from being lost.
Nick Morgan bought the Anko 7-Cup rice cooker for $14 at Kmart’s Chermside store in Brisbane, but found it smoldering in his kitchen
The device (pictured), which he had been using sparingly, caught fire at his North Brisbane home, which he shares with his daughter and eight-month-old granddaughter.
He said she left the kitchen for a moment and returned to the smell of burning plastic and smoke pouring from the rice cooker.
“(Then) she took the bowl out and saw there was a flame at the bottom of the stove,” Mr Morgan said.
Clearly this isn’t the first time the Anko device has caught fire, with numerous product reviews stating that the item ‘exploded’ and ‘should be recalled immediately’.
Kmart said it ‘takes the quality and safety of all our products very seriously’ and ‘encourages’ customers who experience a problem to contact their customer service team.
“While this product meets all required standards, we investigate all quality issues reported to us,” a spokesperson said. Yahoo News.
On their Product Review page, the company said it is “concerned” by the number of customers claiming the product is “very dangerous.”
It’s understood this isn’t the first time the Anko device has caught fire, with numerous product reviews stating the item ‘exploded’ and should be ‘immediately recalled’.
Kmart said it ‘takes the quality and safety of all our products very seriously’ and ‘encourages’ customers who experience a problem to contact their customer service team
“A huge spark came from near the buttons, causing the power to go out to my house,” said one disgruntled customer.
Another said: ‘Don’t buy this rice cooker, it will catch fire.’
‘I’ve bought three in the last five months. All three burned out on first use, with the last one smoking the house so bad we had to rush it out,” a third person wrote.
It is believed that the heating element in the rice cooker may overheat if the inner pot becomes damaged or is not placed flat on the heating plate during use.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kmart for further comment.