DANGEROUS POWER CORDS BEING SOLD AT THE WELLFLEET FLEA MARKET
Fri. Aug 14th 2009
Wellfleet Fire Department
Eastham Fire Department
Joint investigation
Wellfleet Flea Market
August 12, 2009
Dangerous Electrical Cords and Power Strips
• Eastham Fire Department learned of an individual who purchased an electrical cord at the Wellfleet Flea Market.
• When an electrical device was plugged into the cord, the cord immediately began to melt.
• Eastham Deputy Foley and Wellfleet Chief Silverman visited the Wellfleet Flea Market on August 12, 2009.
• Assisted by the flea market manager, they found a vendor who was selling undersized and mismarked extension cords, splitters, and power strips.
• Several cords were confiscated, and the vendor was told to remove the rest of the stock and not offer it for sale.
• Because of a language barrier, the vendor was unable to provide any information about the source of the cords.
• All cords were mismarked as to the wire gauge. Some were marked “Heavy Duty”.
• All cords were seriously undersized.
• None of the cords carried a UL label.
• None of the packaging identified a manufacturer or distributor.
• The only identification on the packaging was “Made in China”.
•While we were able to stop sales at this venue, there are certainly many of these cords in circulation and they are likely being sold in flea markets and similar settings nationwide.
•Buyers should be suspicious of “too good to be true” prices, and electrical items without a UL label.
•Items such as this represent a real fire hazard, and could jeopardize your life and property!
