Please review the photos and share with all your staff ASAP.  Many of my crew are carrying this type of light on their gunbelts. 

On the past Saturday night 03/01/2008, Schuylkill Haven Station patrol member Trooper David Beam, was assisting at a fatal crash where his flashlight was in use @ the scene during very cold weather taking measurements until the lithium batteries failed and the flashlight went out.  Nothing out of the ordinary thus far… The dead light was on Trooper Beam’s gun belt for over an hour, possibly hour and one half, until he returned to station @ 2300 hours and was making copies of fatal crash photos in the clerk’s office.  Trooper Beam heard a loud pop and fully believed that his Glock sidearm had discharged in the holster due to the noise and the heat he was feeling on his side…but the above flashlight was actually the cause.  The light had actually exploded and set Trooper Beams shirt ablaze.  Quick acting and thinking Tpr. James Eades heard the loud bang, saw the smoke and the burning flashlight, then put leather gloves on and removed burning flashlight from Tpr. Beam’s belt.  The light would have seared skin; it had become so hot at this point.  Tpr. Beam was clearly saved of a severe burn related injury by the use of his ballistic armor and Tpr. Eades’ fast actions. I would not want to think what could have happened, should Tpr. Beam been @ a gas pump when this incident took place.  The lithium batteries are labeled “WF,” and were purchased on line by Tpr. Beam. Please call if you have any questions.

Sergeant Craig B. Stine
Station Commander
PSP Schuylkill Haven
(570) 593-2000

Subject: Massi/Trella USAO: BATTERY INFORMATION / WARNING AGAINST USE OF LOW-QUALITY BATTERIES FOLLOW-UP

Dear Sergeant Stine:
Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Derek McDonald and I’m the Vice President of Marketing for SureFire. I’m responding to the email you
sent out on March 3, 2008 entitled: "IMMEDIATE OFFICER SAFETY ISSUE...". Although I was not included as an Addressee, the email was forwarded to my
attention. Speaking on behalf of every SureFire employee, I absolutely understand and share your concern for officer safety and as such I would like to provide
you with additional information:

Your email included a photograph of the light involved in the incident, the photograph showed that the exploding/venting batteries were "WL" brand batteries.
I am unfamiliar with this brand, but preliminary research indicates that it is likely of Chinese origin. For the record, SureFire has never shipped or used any lithium batteries
other than Duracell-brand or SureFire’s own brand of high-quality, made-in-the-USA batteries. In fact, SureFire recommends against the use of any batteries other than SureFire-brand batteries or other major brands such as Duracell, Panasonic, etc. If a SureFire light contains "WL" batteries (or any other brand of batteries) it is because the original SureFire SF123 batteries were replaced by the department, the trooper, or by an unauthorized third party. There have been several reports of lithium batteries exploding or catching fire in various brands of flashlights - these incidents have been traced back to the use of cheap, imported batteries typically made in China, and
typically purchased from an online reseller. These batteries are not made to the same exacting standards as SureFire batteries and do not have the built-in fault/short circuit protection of SureFire batteries. At the end of this email I've included the battery warning that we have posted on www.surefire.com, a similar warning is also included in our product manuals and battery packaging.

SureFire has been manufacturing lithium battery-powered flashlights for nearly 25 years; in that time we have not heard of a single incident of a
SureFire 123A lithium battery causing any such mishap in a SureFire brand flashlight.  SureFire brand batteries are made in the U.S.A. and come with a
built in vent safety feature design, which would prevent any such occurrence.  SureFire approves of the use of it’s batteries and believes
Panasonic or Duracell 123A lithium batteries to be of an acceptable quality as well, but warns against using any other brands.  This list of battery
manufacturers is not an attempt by SureFire to sell more batteries; it has only one purpose, to ensure the safety of SureFire flashlight users. SureFire
lithium SF123 batteries can be purchased in bulk for as low as $1.44 each  - at that price there is no reason not to buy quality.

We design our flashlights with one thing in mind: helping law enforcement officers and military personnel accomplish their mission as safely and
effectively as possible. This commitment is at the core of everything we do and it’s why we control every step of the design and manufacture of our
flashlights in our own facilities in Southern California. This tight control extends to our batteries which are made in the U.S.A. to the highest
standards.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would forward this email to the same people who received your original memo -- we want every officer to know that
when they purchase an inferior battery to save a few pennies, they run a risk of injury, or at the very least, damaged equipment. And of course, we
have worked hard to build a reputation for quality and reliability and would hate to have that reputation negatively affected by a circumstance beyond
our control.  I would like to follow this email up with a telephone call and will try to reach you later today. Please do not hesitate to call me at any
time with questions or additional input. Lastly, although our warranty stipulates use of SureFire-brand batteries, and although our product was not the apparent cause of the issue, we will be working with Trooper Beam  to replace his flashlight at no-charge.  

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration, I look forward to speaking with you.

 Best regards,
Derek McDonald
SureFire
18300 Mt. Baldy Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
U.S.A.
Tel: 714-545-9444  (ex. 2114)
Fax: 714-545-9537