Christmas Tree Light Controllers Sold at Major Retailers Recalled Over Fire Risk

Christmas lights are crucial to your holiday decorations; nothing adds a little whimsy like a cute, North Pole-inspired controller for your holiday lights. But there’s currently a recall for wireless decorative tree light controllers. Over 44,000 controllers sold at Walmart, Cracker Barrel and Target are being recalled due to the safety hazard they pose. Read on to see if you own one of the dangerous models and learn how to protect yourself.

Which Christmas Tree Light Controllers Are Recalled?

Mr. Christmas controllers from Walmart and Cracker Barrel and the Wondershop controllers sold at Target are all included in this recall. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC), these wireless controllers have a lever or switch component as well as “a separate white receiver that plugs into an outlet and into which the tree’s holiday lights are plugged.”

The router is a “white wireless receptacle that is plugged into an outlet contains the words ‘Mr. Christmas’ and one of these three model numbers printed on the white receptacle: 39611, 39612 or 39630.”

As for the switch component, the one from Walmart and Cracker Barrel “is shaped like a green, red and white peppermint candy with a candy cane on/off lever, and displays the words ‘Christmas Light Controller.'” Meanwhile, the option sold at Target “is shaped like a square on/off switch box with green, red and white balls, and displays the words ‘Tree Lighting Switch.'”

Why Are These Controllers Dangerous?

The USCPSC has received multiple reports of the routers for the Christmas lights controller overheating, hence the recall. Thus far, there have been 10 reports of overheating and one fire. Thankfully, there are no reported injuries at this time.

What to Do if You Have a Recalled Controller

If you’ve purchased a Christmas lights controller included in the recall, stop using it immediately. Currently, there is no fix for the defect. Instead you’ll have to return yours to the store you purchased it from in order to get a full refund.

Per the USCPSC, you can contact “Mr. Christmas by phone at 800-489-6328 any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT, email at [email protected] or online at www.mrchristmas.com/recall or www.mrchristmas.com and click on the ‘Recall’ hyperlink on the bottom of the webpage for more information.”

Source

Mr. Christmas Recalls Wireless Decorative Tree Light Controllers Due to Fire Hazard, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2024.