NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Home Depot Inc., the No. 1 home improvement chain, Thursday said it was recalling about 2.2 million of its "SMC" brand of oscillating floor fans, citing a potential fire hazard from the product's electric power cord.

The retailer said the cord can be damaged by the motion of the fan and can cause a possible short circuit and ignition of the plastic case.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said it was aware of 31 incidents in which the cord on these fans was damaged, which resulted in smoke and fires and at least nine of these incidents resulted in property damage.

The recall includes 18-inch, pedestal floor fans with model number "SR-18" or "SP-18." The model number is on the back of the fan beside the on/off button. All of the recalled fans are white with the brand name "SMC."

Home Depot (HD: Research, Estimates) sold these fans from January 1997 through October 2001 for about $20. The recalled fans also were sold at other retailers, some of which have gone out of business.

The recalled 18-inch pedestal floor fan has the model number "SR-18" or "SP-18."

The CPSC said consumers should stop using the fans immediately and either return them to Home Depot for a store credit, or contact SMC Marketing Corp. for instructions on receiving a refund. Home Depot said it would accept all recalled fans.

For more information, consumers can contact Home Depot toll-free at (800) 553-3199 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or SMC Marketing Corp. toll-free at (800) 527-3675 between the same hours Monday through Friday.