Nearly 700,000 Halloween lanterns recalled

Nearly 700,000 battery operated Halloween lanterns sold through several retailers nationwide are being recalled because they overheat, posing the threat of fire and burns to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the importer, Greenbrier International Inc. of Chesapeake, Va. announced the recall Thursday of 682,000 plastic lanterns designed to resemble a pumpkin, ghost and skull. The lanterns are about 6½-inches tall and are sold in orange, white and black.

Greenbrier International has received one report of the bulb in a lantern overheating. No injuries have been reported.

Made in China, the lanterns were sold for about $1 at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, Occasions, Deal$ and Dollar Tree Deal$ stores nationwide between August and October. Model number 954439-13096-003-1005 is printed on a label on the bottom of the lanterns.

Consumers should take the recalled lanterns away from children immediately, remove and properly discard the batteries and return the lanterns to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Further information is available from Dollar Tree Stores Inc. website www.dollartree.com or weekdays at (800) 876-8077.