Recall Haunts Costume Search

Halloween-goers might be the life of the party with their vampire capes and witches' brooms, but the government warns that some of these props pose fire hazards.

Rubie's Costume Co. Inc. of Richmond Hill, N.Y., is recalling 6,000 vinyl capes and 6,000 twig and bamboo brooms because they fail to meet federal mandatory standards for flammability, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.

The capes and 27-inch brooms were sold for about $2 each over the last year at toy, party, discount, and drug stores nationwide, the safety commission said.

The cape was sold with a printed cardboard insert which reads: "Child's Vinyl Vampire cape ... No. 50282 ... made in China." The brooms were sold with a strip of paper around the handle printed with the words, "Child's Authentic Witch Broom ... Style No. 85."

Consumers were asked to return capes and booms to the stores at which they were purchased for a refund.

People with questions were asked to call the costume company collect at 516-488-0484 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.