San Leandro based Cleaire Advanced Emissions Controls, which manufactures diesel particulate filters, shut down operations as of January 18th, 2013.
The move follows two brush fires, allegedly tied to their products as well as an August 2012 recall of their Longmile DPF.
One of these fires, which the Washington State Department of Natural Resources claims was caused by a DPF, burned more than 3000 acres and destroyed nearly 30 homes and more than 70 other structures.
The California Air Resources Board has offered an exemption of sorts for owners of Cleaire filters, saying “ affected owners and fleets will Cleaire filters, as noted in ARB records, will not be penalized for missing deadlines with applicable ARB regulations until this situation is resolved.”