PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Federal officials are recalling HVAC units like the ones that caused fires at two Jersey Shore schools earlier this year.
Four separate HVAC units caught fire in January and February at Arthur Ran Elementary School in Galloway Township. A heating and cooling unit also caught fire at Wildwood High School in Cape May County in February.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the cause was a fan motor in certain Airedale SchoolMate and ClassMate heat pump units made by Modine. It can short-circuit and cause the units to overheat if water gets on the circuit board.
Wildwood Fire Chief and School Board President Ernie Troiano III said the recall is an important development.
“Bottom line, safety is first and foremost,” he told NBC10. “So the fact that they’ve finally identified that there is an issue and issued this recall, that’s definitely a big step in the right direction.”
Modine said most of the affected units have already been replaced.
