Orland Fire Protection District firefighters responded Sunday evening to a report of a hoverboard fire at an Orland Park home that caused a burn injury to a person’s hand and caused furnishings to catch fire.
After a hoverboard was plugged into a regular outlet, the hoverboard exploded while charging. First, the hoverboard smelled of smoke, showed sparks, and then showed flames. The hoverboard exploded four times as the family members at the house attempted to get the device out of the house.
Pieces were flying out of the device, one piece landed on the couch, which ignited the couch, curtains and a wall. Ashes were also seen floating in the air.
The fire was extinguished before serious damage to the southwest suburban house occurred.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued the following tips to reduce risks
For those who are using a hoverboard (or what some companies are calling a smart board or balance board), here are some tips, based on what we know so far, to help reduce the risk of an incident:
Avoid buying the product at a location (like a mall kiosk) or on a website that does not have information about who is selling the product and how they can be contacted if there is a problem. If you do not think you could find the seller again, were a problem to arise with your board, that should be a warning to you not to do business with them.
Do not charge a hoverboard overnight or when you are not able to observe the board.
Charge and store in an open dry area away from combustibles (meaning items that can catch fire).
Do not charge directly after riding. Let the device cool for an hour before charging.
If giving a hoverboard to someone for the holidays, leave it in its partially charged state. Do not take it out of the package to bring it to a full charge and then wrap it back up. Often, the product comes partially charged. Leave it in that state until it is ready to be used.
Look for the mark of a certified national testing laboratory. While this does not rule out counterfeits, the absence of such a mark means your safety is likely not a priority for that manufacturer.
Do not ride near vehicular traffic.
This tip needs to be reiterated: It is important to wear safety gear when using a hoverboard. We recommend the same safety gear that you would wear when riding a skateboard — a skateboard helmet, and knee and elbow pads and wrist guards for protection from falls
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