WASHINGTON, DC — Cadet Manufacturing, producer of residential electric heaters, said it will begin recalling the defective products as soon as a federal bankruptcy judge and the Consumer Product Safety Commission approve the action.

The Vancouver, WA-based company plans to recall 190,000 heaters and sell replacements at a reduced cost. Limit switches in the heaters can emit sparks, presenting a fire hazard, according to the CPSC.

The manufacturer filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy last January, citing financial pressure from a 1997 recall and lawsuit. In that action, the CPSC required the recall of the company’s Cadet and Encore brand heaters, charging that the units caused three deaths, four house fires, two serious burns, and more than $1.2 million in property damages.

The units in question are sold under both trade names, and have a model number beginning with FX, FW, Lx, or ZA followed by three numbers on a label on front of the internal heater assembly.

The heaters have been installed in homes from 1985 to 1992 in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Consumers should call Cadet at 800-567-2631 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT to arrange for a local service technician to replace the limit switch or switches for free.