Hoverboard causes Oregon home fire

MEDFORD, Ore. — A toy that has made national headlines for being prone to igniting was at the root of a Wednesday home fire in Medford.

Medford Fire-Rescue responded to a residential fire at 5:08 p.m. Wednesday and determined the fire was caused by a malfunctioning hoverboard motorized toy.

While questioning the occupants of the home, a 20-year-old resident told fire investigator Ralph Sartain that the toy beeped, which he believed meant that the battery was fully charged. He heard whistling and saw smoke, and reached to unplug it.

The hoverboard owner called for his parents as the lithium-ion battery pack exploded and spread fire. The family was able to extinguish the bedroom fire using water, and carried the flaming hoverboard through the house before extinguishing it on the back porch.

No one was injured, and the fire was quickly extinguished.

The batteries on the self-balancing electric scooters, commonly known as hoverboards but sold under a variety of brands, are prone to failure, particularly for the least expensive versions sold on eBay for around $300. The devices have caused house fires nationwide. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating the fires.

After the fire, Medford Fire-Rescue sent out an advisory urging owners of hoverboards to use extreme caution.

The CPSC advises that hoverboards be stored in an open and dry area, wait for the device to cool before charging, and don’t charge the device while it is unattended.