The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division is alerting the boating public about a flare safety recall.

Orion Safety Products, the manufacturer of the hand-launched Skyblazer II Red XLT Aerial Signals (“XLTs”) flare received a report indicating that an XLT ignited without the safety cap being removed or the ignition cord being pulled. The report and photographs indicate that the flare did not launch but burned in place.

As Orion continues to investigate, this recall and product quarantine encompasses all XLT products with the following revised impacted Orion product numbers and expiration dates: Product Numbers 769, 855/855A, and 859, with expiration dates of August 2028 through April 2029. Orion is advising all owners of these flares to immediately stop using them and to store them in a safe and secure location away from combustible products until further notice.

Orion has posted instructions for its recommended procedure to quarantine impacted XLTs on its website at https://www.orionsignals.com/project/recall-notices/.

Orion is currently conducting an exhaustive investigation as to the cause of the reported incident. Once more information is known, Orion will provide more information on how they will collect and destroy the recalled flares and when a replacement product will be provided.

Orion has notified the U.S. Coast Guard and the Consumer Product Safety Commission of this occurrence.

URGENT SAFETY RECALL AND PRODUCT QUARANTINE
Skyblazer II Red XLT Aerial Signals
Updated November 26, 2025
Incidence Report. Orion Safety Products, the manufacturer of the hand-launched Skyblazer II Red XLT Aerial Signals (“XLTs”) received a report indicating that an XLT ignited without the safety cap being removed or the ignition cord being pulled. The report and photographs indicate that the flare did not launch but burned in place. There were no reported injuries.

Impacted XLTs. As Orion continues to investigate, this recall and product quarantine encompasses all XLT products with the below REVISED impacted Orion product numbers and Expiration Dates:

Product Numbers 769, 855/855A and 859 with an Expiration Date of August 2028 through April 2029
Quarantine. As the investigation continues, Orion is directing all customers, distributors, dealers and consumers to:
Immediately stop using all XLT signals with the Expiration Dates noted in Section B above.
Quarantine all impacted XLTs and store the product in a safe and secure location away from combustible products until further notice.

Orion has posted instructions for its recommended procedure to quarantine impacted XLTs on its website at https://www.orionsignals.com/project/recall-notices/.
Next Steps. Orion is currently conducting an exhaustive investigation as to the cause of the reported incident. Once more information is known, Orion will contact you to provide more information, including:
How Orion will arrange for collection/destruction of quarantined product
How and when replacement product will be provided

As more information becomes available Orion will post updates on its website.

Orion is critically concerned about the safety of our customers. We are notifying the U.S. Coast Guard and the Consumer Product Safety Commission of this occurrence. It is imperative you segregate and secure any XLTs that are identified in Section B above as soon as possible. We understand that this is a complex issue and we thank you in advance for your patience and understanding while we continue to investigate this matter and the logistics for moving forward.