Health Canada Expands Portable Charger Recall After Additional Fire Reports

Health Canada has announced an extended recall of ESR HaloLock wireless power blocks designed for charging mobile phones. Health Canada handout photo

Health Canada has issued an expanded recall notice for ESR HaloLock wireless power blocks used for mobile phone charging after receiving reports the products caused fires in Canada and the United States.

There have been nine reports of fires resulting in property damage in Canada and 11 in the United States as of Sept. 26, the health agency said in its Oct. 9 recall notice. No injuries have been reported thus far.

The fires are caused when the lithium-ion battery inside the recalled power banks overheats, the notice said.

All ESR HaloLock Wireless Power Bank products with model numbers 2G520, 2G505B, 2G512B, and 2G505, are being recalled by Waymeet Ltd. The model number is located on the side of the power banks, which are available in various colours, including black, white, light blue, dark blue, and grey.

“Immediately stop using the recalled products and contact Waymeet Limited for a full refund,” Health Canada said. “Dispose of it by contacting your municipality for instructions on how to safely transport and dispose of lithium-ion batteries.”

The company reported that 11,757 of the impacted products were sold in Canada and 46,190 were sold in the United States from October 2022 to July 2025. The chargers are manufactured in China.

Customers can return the item by contacting the company via phone or email.

Fire Pit Recall

The agency has also issued a notice of recall for the Nordic Flame Tabletop Fire Pit due to inadequate labelling that Health Canada says could lead to injury or death.

Nordic Flame Tabletop Fire Pit sold by Giant Tiger requires users to pour ethanol into the burner and then light the pooled ethanol fuel in the exact location it was poured, the Oct. 9 notice says.

Health Canada has announced a recall for the Nordic Flame Tabletop Fire Pit because of insufficient labelling that the agency says could result in injury. Health Canada photo

“The lack of appropriate labelling and hazard information could contribute to a flame jetting incident and/or unintentional exposure to the product and lead to serious illness, injury, or death,” the health agency said, noting that no injuries had been reported as of Oct. 7.

Flame jetting takes place when fuel vapours surrounding a poured fuel stream ignite during the refuelling of a portable fire product that remains lit, potentially when the flame is not easily seen, Health Canada said. It may also happen when the flame has been put out, yet the device retains heat.

“This can result in a burst of flaming fuel being rapidly expelled out of the container and travelling a distance dangerous to the user and bystanders,” the agency said. “Flame jetting occurs very quickly, so the user and/or bystanders are unable to react quickly enough to move away from an incoming flame jet.”

Giant Tiger reported 1,488 units of the affected products were sold in Canada from February to September of this year.

The fire pit is rectangular in shape and is stainless steel with a fuel cup and a burner handle. The product UPC number 78557162608 appears on the packaging of the product .

Anyone who has purchased one of these tables should immediately stop using it and return it to Giant Tiger for a refund, the advisory said. The company can be contacted by phone or email.