Fire Marshal's Office Issues Clarification on Grain-Filled Therapeutic Pillows and Potential Fire Hazards

The Provincial Fire Marshal's Office would like to clarify recent reports claiming that Magic Bags could pose a potential fire hazard. It was not the intention of the Fire Marshal's Office to specifically name the Magic Bag product in the article which recently appeared in the Guardian.

There have been no reports to this point of fires in Prince Edward Island caused specifically by the brand name therapeutic pillow "Magic Bag." The intention of the Fire Marshal's Office in the article was to specify that the contents of any grain-filled therapeutic pillows could be a potential fire hazard when heated improperly.

To reiterate the potential hazard as reported in a release from the Fire Marshal's Office on January 29, 2001, testing by Health Canada shows that flameless burning can occur if a grain-filled pillow is heated in a microwave oven longer than the manufacturer's maximum recommended heating period. Tests were conducted on two materials: buckwheat husks and oat grain. While buckwheat husks are more flammable, oat-grain will also ignite if overheated.

The risk of fire is further increased by heating a pillow several times a day without allowing it to cool down between each use or by storing in a hot or dry location. All of these conditions reduce the moisture content of the filling and make it easier to ignite. What makes microwave heating especially dangerous is that there may be no signs of burning until some time after the pillow is removed from the oven.

The Fire Marshal's Office reminds consumers to check for clear manufacturers instructions when purchasing such products. Following manufacturers' instructions is especially important when using grain-filled therapeutic bags.