Overview

Amazon requires that any fire‑safety product sold to customers in California comply with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) certification and labeling rules. Sellers who list smoke alarms, carbon‑monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers or related devices without the proper CAL FIRE approval risk having their listings blocked and may see broader account repercussions.

Key Points

• Mandatory CAL FIRE listing — Products such as smoke alarms, carbon‑monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers can only be offered in California if the exact model appears on CAL FIRE’s official approved catalog or satisfies the agency’s certification criteria.
• Scope of affected items — The rule covers fire alarms, smoke alarms, smoke detectors, carbon‑monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers; any other life‑safety equipment is not subject to this specific requirement.
• Seller‑driven verification — Amazon places the onus on the seller to confirm whether a SKU falls under CAL FIRE regulations before creating or activating a listing, meaning the marketplace will not perform the check for you.
• Prohibited non‑compliant listings — Listings that lack a CAL FIRE approval number or that do not display the required labeling will be automatically suppressed for California shoppers, and repeated violations can trigger account‑health warnings.
• Appeal pathway exists — If a seller believes an ASIN was mistakenly restricted, Amazon provides a documented appeal process that can restore the listing once sufficient proof of compliance is supplied.

How CAL FIRE Approval Works

1. Identify product category — Determine whether the item is a fire alarm, smoke alarm, smoke detector, carbon‑monoxide detector or fire extinguisher; for example, a battery‑operated smoke detector falls under the “smoke detector” category and therefore requires CAL FIRE validation.
2. Check the official CAL FIRE list — Visit the CAL FIRE website or download the latest approved‑model spreadsheet and locate the exact model number; a 2023‑approved Model X‑2000 fire extinguisher would be listed with its certification code, while a similar but unlisted Model X‑2001 would not qualify.