West Bend, Wis.-Based Water Distiller Maker to Pay $250,000 Fine.

Byline: Thomas Content

Mar. 29--The West Bend Co. will pay a $250,000 fine to settle allegations that the company knew its water distillers posed a fire hazard to consumers but did not inform federal product safety regulators of the problem.

The fine, announced Tuesday, is the third-largest against an appliance manufacturer in the history of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The oval-shaped water distillers, used to purify water, were recalled in September 1999, less than three weeks after the company informed the commission of motor failures involving the product.

But the commission alleged that West Bend learned of three motor …