I was looking for a gas can last year. Went to Lowes and found a red plastic container with a lever on it to dispense and vent the container, no more revoving two caps and then losing them. And, suprise suprise, it was made in the USA. I was shocked.
Well, all good thing must end. Apparently there are quite a few complete dumbasses that have used these to start a fire! This, despite warnings on the can. So, they are closing their doors, and putting 117 people out of work. This is just sad.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstorie...-close-in-July
MIAMI, Okla. — Blitz USA, a manufacturer of gasoline containers that has operated for nearly five decades in Miami, will close on July 31, putting 117 employees out of work.
“This is a sad day in the 46-year history of Blitz and for our 117 employees,” said Rocky Flick, president of the company, in a prepared statement issued Tuesday.
“We appreciate the support of our employees and their families in our efforts to reorganize and develop a viable business plan. Unfortunately, we were not able to address the costs of the increased litigation associated with our fuel-containment products.”
Amanda Emerson, external affairs manager for Blitz USA, said the company is facing numerous lawsuits with regard to its portable fuel containers. The company has spent $30 million defending product-liability suits and owes $3.5 million in lawyer fees.
Blitz USA, which manufactures 70 to 75 percent of the portable gas cans sold in the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., because of the litigation. Emerson said the company at that time faced 42 lawsuits.
“The lawsuits have involved adult individuals who have used gasoline to start a fire or accelerate a fire,” she said.
Emerson said the nation could face a severe shortage of the familiar red gas cans as early as this summer if steps are not taken to protect the industry that manufactures them.
“If we continue with the same legal language, a sustained supply-chain shortage could develop,” she said. “If something does not change, you would be crazy to invest in the gasoline-container industry at this time.”
She encouraged those with an interest in the situation facing Blitz and other gasoline-container companies to visit gascans4safety.com for additional information.
Well, all good thing must end. Apparently there are quite a few complete dumbasses that have used these to start a fire! This, despite warnings on the can. So, they are closing their doors, and putting 117 people out of work. This is just sad.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstorie...-close-in-July
MIAMI, Okla. — Blitz USA, a manufacturer of gasoline containers that has operated for nearly five decades in Miami, will close on July 31, putting 117 employees out of work.
“This is a sad day in the 46-year history of Blitz and for our 117 employees,” said Rocky Flick, president of the company, in a prepared statement issued Tuesday.
“We appreciate the support of our employees and their families in our efforts to reorganize and develop a viable business plan. Unfortunately, we were not able to address the costs of the increased litigation associated with our fuel-containment products.”
Amanda Emerson, external affairs manager for Blitz USA, said the company is facing numerous lawsuits with regard to its portable fuel containers. The company has spent $30 million defending product-liability suits and owes $3.5 million in lawyer fees.
Blitz USA, which manufactures 70 to 75 percent of the portable gas cans sold in the United States, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., because of the litigation. Emerson said the company at that time faced 42 lawsuits.
“The lawsuits have involved adult individuals who have used gasoline to start a fire or accelerate a fire,” she said.
Emerson said the nation could face a severe shortage of the familiar red gas cans as early as this summer if steps are not taken to protect the industry that manufactures them.
“If we continue with the same legal language, a sustained supply-chain shortage could develop,” she said. “If something does not change, you would be crazy to invest in the gasoline-container industry at this time.”
She encouraged those with an interest in the situation facing Blitz and other gasoline-container companies to visit gascans4safety.com for additional information.