THOMASVILLE — A recall has been issued for a top-brand fire extinguisher sold widely in Thomasville, according to a Thomasville Fire/Rescue officer.

The brand, Kidde, is sold in Thomasville big-box stores, Chief Fire Marshal Tim Connell said.

“Kidde probably is one of the top brands in the country,” he said.

Connell said Kidde announced a recall of close to 38 million fire extinguishers nationwide, adding that the affected extinguishers might not perform when an emergency situation occurs.

Plastic necks of the extinguishers become clogged, pressure builds and the extinguishers might explode, Connell said.

“In some situations, the extinguisher may also fail to activate. Either situation is alarming and could make an emergency situation even more dire,” he added. “The fire extinguishers that are part of this recall can become clogged or require an excessive amount of force to get them to discharge.

There have been almost 400 reports of problems related to Kidde fire extinguishers, Connell said.

“The worst thing that could happen in that type of situation is to have your extinguisher malfunction,” he said. “That can change an emergency situation to a life-and-death situation very quickly.”

Connell said the department was informed of the recall by the U.S. Fire Administration. The agency is aware of at least one death that resulted from a failed extinguisher.

The recall includes Kidde plastic handle fire extinguishers.

Thomasville Fire/Rescue urges Thomasville residents to verify the safety of their extinguishers by visiting the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission website, www.cpsc.gov. Additional information also is available at www.kidde.com.

Fire extinguishers should be turned upside down and shaken periodically. Otherwise, Connell said, powder in the extinguisher goes to the bottom and solidifies.

“Kidde has identified a potential product safety issue related to certain fire extinguishers,” a spokesman for the company said Wednesday. “As customer safety is our first priority, Kidde is voluntarily recalling the affected models and replacing them with different models. The potential safety issue that prompted the recall is that the fire extinguishers can become clogged or require excessive force to activate, posing a risk of failure to discharge. In addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard. For that reason, we urge consumers to replace them through Kidde’s recall replacement program.”

Consumers may request a free replacement by contacting Kidde toll-free at (855) 271-0773 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, go to www.kidde.com and click on Product Safety Notices.

Connell said people without internet access should call fire/rescue at 227-4099 for help.