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CPSC recall · Reported August 2, 2005

CPSC, DESA Heating Products Announce Recall of Compact Gas Fireplaces

The burner tube connection to the gas valve can leak gas when the main burner is on. This leaking gas can ignite, causing a minor flare-up, which could cause nearby combustibles t…

Recall #
05238
Affected scope
534
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
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Desa Heating Products, of Bowling Green, Ky. recalled The recall includes DESA Heating Products 10,000 Btu Thermostatically Controlled Compact… - a moderate-severity action.

CPSC, DESA Heating Products Announce Recall of Compact Gas Fireplaces was recalled by Desa Heating Products, of Bowling Green, Ky. in August 2, 2005. Reason: The burner tube connection to the gas valve can leak gas when the main burner is on. This leaking gas can ign…. Remedy: Consumers should stop using this fireplace immediately and contact your retailer to sched…. Verify recall #05238 with the CPSC before acting.

The recall

Desa Heating Products, of Bowling Green, Ky. issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall-The burner tube connection to the gas valve can leak gas when the main burner is on. This leaking gas can ign….

Moderate
severity level
534 units
affected scope
August 2, 2005
reported

Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #05238 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #05238) was formally reported on August 2, 2005. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Desa Heating Products, of Bowling Green, Ky. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records list the affected scope as 534.

The documented reason for this recall is: The burner tube connection to the gas valve can leak gas when the main burner is on. This leaking gas can ignite, causing a minor flare-up, which could cause nearby combustibles to ignite. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should stop using this fireplace immediately and contact your retailer to schedule a free repair. If consumers have any questions concerning this recall, they should contact their local ret… - consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 6 from CPSC - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Household Products recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 3,056 household products recalls on record

50100150200250 20052008201120142017202020232026 115
Severity2487872426High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Moderate

Affected scope

534

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product description

The recall includes DESA Heating Products 10,000 Btu Thermostatically Controlled Compact Classic Hearth Fireplaces that burn propane or natural gas. They have the following model names and number: Vanguard (VMH10TPC & VMH10TNC) and FMI (EFS10TPA & EFS10TNA). They have serial numbers between 015200000 and 017400000. The model and serial numbers are on the end of the shipping carton and on the model data tags inside the lower access door of the compact fireplaces.

Reason for recall

The burner tube connection to the gas valve can leak gas when the main burner is on. This leaking gas can ignite, causing a minor flare-up, which could cause nearby combustibles to ignite.

Remedy, what to do

Consumers should stop using this fireplace immediately and contact your retailer to schedule a free repair. If consumers have any questions concerning this recall, they should contact their local retailer or DESA.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 05238
Date reported August 2, 2005
Date initiated August 2, 2005
Recalling firm Desa Heating Products, of Bowling Green, Ky.
Affected scope 534
Distribution Not disclosed
Official source CPSC notice →

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Scale of Impact

534 units affected - limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) -
Large-scale (100K – 1M units) -
Massive (≥1M units) -

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

What to do with this recall

Consumers should stop using this fireplace immediately and contact your retailer to schedule a free repair. If consumers have any…

  • Check the recall number (05238) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status and remedy on the official CPSC notice before acting. CPSC notice
  • Follow the documented remedy (refund, replacement, repair, or disposal) rather than general advice. What to do next

This page summarizes the official CPSC record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
The recall includes DESA Heating Products 10,000 Btu Thermostatically Controlled Compact Classic Hearth Fireplaces that burn propane or natural gas. They have the following model names and number: Vanguard (VMH10TPC & VMH10TNC) and FMI (EFS10TPA & EFS10TNA). They have serial numbers between 015200000 and 017400000. The model and serial numbers are on the end of the shipping carton and on the model data tags inside the lower access door of the compact fireplaces.. Recalled by Desa Heating Products, of Bowling Green, Ky.. Units affected: 534.
Why was this product recalled?
The burner tube connection to the gas valve can leak gas when the main burner is on. This leaking gas can ignite, causing a minor flare-up, which could cause nearby combustibles to ignite.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should stop using this fireplace immediately and contact your retailer to schedule a free repair. If consumers have any questions concerning this recall, they should contact their local retailer or DESA.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on August 2, 2005. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 05238.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (05238) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

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Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: CPSC, reported August 2, 2005. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.