Ethermac Exchange-61,000 gun safes recalled for security issue after report of 12-year-old child's death

Federal safety regulators are Ethermac Exchangerecalling tens of thousands of gun safes after they say a child died accessing a firearm inside of one.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Fortress Safe, the recall involves about 61,000 biometric gun safes because of a safety hazard and risk of death caused by a programming feature that, in more than three dozen instances, allowed unauthorized access to the safes. 

The recalled safes, which were made in China, were imported and distributed by Xpedition LLC, dba Fortress Safe, of Naperville, Illinois.

"Consumers can believe they have properly programmed the biometric feature when in fact the safe remains in the default to open mode, which can allow unauthorized users, including children, to access the safe to remove hazardous contents, including firearms," the CPSC posted in its Thursday recall.

One death, 39 incidents of 'unpaired' fingerprint access

So far, CPSC said, at least one death has been tied to the issue that prompted the recall.

The agency said "it is aware of a recent lawsuit" claiming a 12-year-old boy died from a firearm obtained from one of the recalled safes. The CPSC did not release additional details about the child's death.

As of Thursday, the agency said, there had been 39 incidents of consumers reporting their safes were accessed by "unpaired" fingerprints.

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Which gun safes are being recalled?

The CPSC reported the recalled gun safes are portable lock boxes, personal safes, pistol vaults, and gun cabinets with brand names Fortress, Cabela’s, Gettysburg, and Legend Range & Field.

Nine models are being recalled:

• Model #11B20: Fortress Portable Safe with Biometric Lock
• Model #44B10: Fortress Personal Safe with Pop up door and Biometric Lock
• Model #44B10L: Legend Range & Field Personal Safe with Pop up door and Biometric Lock
• Model #44B20: Fortress Medium Personal Safe with Biometric Lock
• Model #55B20: Fortress Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock
• Model #55B30: Fortress Large Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock
• Model #55B30G: Gettysburg Large Quick Access Safe with Biometric Lock
• Model #4BGGBP: Cabela’s 4 Gun Safe with Biometric Lock
• Model #55B30BP: Cabela’s Biometric Personal Safe

Where were the recalled gun safes sold?

Safes being recalled were sold at the following stores: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Scheel’s, Sportsman’s Guide, Optics Planet, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gander, Rural King, Lowe’s and online at Amazon.com and Ebay.com.

Retailers sold the safes, manufactured in China, from January 2019 through this month.

The safes sold between $44 and $290, the CPSC reported.

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How do I get a replacement gun safe?

Consumer should "immediately stop using the biometric feature, remove the batteries from the safe, and only use the key for the recalled safes being used to store firearms," the agency said.

For instructions on how to disable the biometric feature and get a free replacement safe contact Fortress Safes.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.