Pair Say Exploding Thermos Damaged Home

GENTRY — It wasn't the coffee that had the kick — it was the thermos. A Gentry couple says a Stanley thermos they owned for a number of years exploded Tuesday, coating their apartment with a fine layer of charcoal dust. The thermos, subject of a 2005 recall, had a weak handle. Once broken, the thermos' vacuum seal can fail, releasing nontoxic charcoal powder into the air.

Regina Bowers said that's what happened to her Tuesday. Walking through her home, she brushed a circle of the fine, black powder on her kitchen counter. She beat her sofa, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

"I could never think a thermos could cause this much devastation in one home," Bowers said. "It's really devastating to us because it's everything we own."

Bowers put the damage at about $9,000, saying the dust got into her television, computer and other electronics. She said Stanley had been very helpful and promised to help financially after the explosion.

Stanley is owned by Seattle-based Pacific Market International.

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