{"id":136690,"date":"2016-02-29T15:42:04","date_gmt":"2016-02-29T05:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=136690"},"modified":"2020-10-21T15:01:11","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T05:01:11","slug":"scrap-your-old-gas-cooker-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/02\/29\/scrap-your-old-gas-cooker-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Scrap Your Old Gas Cooker – Now"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Portable gas cookers made before July 2015 should be scrapped (Photo: DNRM)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 29, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the Easter break coming up soon, Queensland firefighters are reminding campers that State gas regulators have banned a large number of portable gas stoves due to safety concerns.<\/p>\n

There is a risk the cookers may explode if they overheat.<\/p>\n

Over the past few months, firefighters have been called to respond to jobs where this has occurred.<\/p>\n

Two explosions in North Queensland put four Queenslanders into hospital earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said anyone who had bought a butane gas “lunchbox” cooker manufactured before July 2015 should stop using it and dispose of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are potentially lethal,” he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMany models of these were recalled last year. I am now expanding that warning to any cooker manufactured before July 2015 when manufacturing standards changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cCheck the compliance plate on the side or underneath the cooker, and put your safety, and the safety of your family and friends first.<\/p>\n

\u201cDispose of it, spend the $20-25 for a new one, and be safe rather than sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201clunchbox\u201d cookers use a butane gas canister that should eject when the gas canister overheats.<\/p>\n

However, many models were recalled nationally in mid-2015 because the safety mechanism didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

Dr Lynham said about a million of the cookers were believed to be in circulation Australia-wide.<\/p>\n

Thousands were delivered to Rockhampton after the January 2014 floods cut electricity supplies to households.<\/p>\n

Dr Lynham said the potential hazard was amplified because the cookers were so common.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are compact and inexpensive and they are sitting in caravans, boats, garages and sheds across Queensland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n