Dehumidifiers suspected in house fires

Dehumidifiers that have been the subject of a manufacturer recall are suspected of causing several recent fires in Washington County, the Sheriff's Office said.

The dehumidifiers, manufactured by Gree Electric Appliances of China, were sold from January 2005 through August 2013, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The dehumidifiers can overheat, smoke and catch fire, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers, according to a posting on the commission's website.

This recall involved select 20-, 25-, 30-, 40-, 45-, 50-, 65- and 70-pint dehumidifiers with the brand names Danby, De'Longhi, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Premiere, Seabreeze, SoleusAir and SuperClima, according to the commission.

People who own humidifiers are urged to check if they are on the commission's recall list, to avoid using extension cords with any humidifiers and to make sure, when used, that they are plugged directly into electrical outlets of ample size to sustain their loads, according to a news release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.