Hoverboard Cause Of Stoneham House Fire

STONEHAM, MA — A battery-powered hoverboard was the cause of an Oct. 12 house fire in Stoneham, fire officials said. Investigators said the fire at 16 Flint St. started on the first floor at the hoverboard, which was left charging under the kitchen table.

The fire was deemed accidental, but it is unknown whether it was a failure of the hoverboard itself, the charger, or if the hoverboard had been charged too long. A teenager at home at the time of the fire escaped through a second-floor window, and a dog was treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage.

"We're urging residents to be careful and follow manufacturer's instructions when using and maintaining any device with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries," Stoneham Fire Chief Matthew Grafton said in a statement. "Never leave these devices unattended or on a flammable surface while charging."

Hoverboards were a popular holiday gift in 2015 and responsible for several fires in late 2015 and early 2016, according to the fire department. The U.S. Consumer Production Safety Commission (CPSC) issued warnings to consumers, launched an investigation and recalled several models. There have been few hoverboard fires since the recalls.

State Fire Marshal Ostroskey offered these safety tips for using any lithium-ion powered electronic item, whether it's a laptop, a cell phone or hoverboard:

· Only purchase hoverboards that are compliant with the UL 2272 safety standard. However, even UL 2272 compliance cannot guarantee that a hoverboard will not overheat or catch fire.

· The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has guidance on how to check if a hoverboard has been recalled or if it meets this safety standard at www.cpsc.gov.

· Only use the chargers supplied with the hoverboard (or other electronics). Non-approved chargers or systems may not work properly with lithium-ion battery packs and can damage the battery or device, or cause a fire.

· Follow manufacturer’s instructions for charging. Don’t overcharge devices or leave them unattended for long periods of time. Overcharging can lead to a fire.

· Only charge a hoverboard (or other electronics) when you are there to watch it. Do not charge an unattended hoverboard, especially overnight.

· Don’t charge or use lithium-ion batteries in extreme temperatures. Cold temperatures can cause a battery not to hold a charge while high temperatures (or prolonged exposure to sunlight) can cause a malfunction and lead to a fire.

· Replace and properly discard damaged batteries. Using damaged batteries may lead to thermal runaway which can cause a fire.

· Charge devices on solid surfaces that won’t catch fire. Don’t place charging devices or devices in use on soft and/or combustible surfaces. The heat produced by the charging or use of the battery can get trapped around the battery and if left untouched, can damage the battery or device, or cause a fire.

· Keep away from flammable items while charging or even storing your hoverboard.

· Check for recalls. Go to www.CPSC.gov to see if the hoverboard has been recalled. Stop using a recalled hoverboard immediately.

· Have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas, and inside each bedroom.

· Report incidents involving hoverboards overheating, smoking, or catching fire to the CPSC at www.Saferproducts.gov.

For more information on hoverboard safety, go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website at: www.cpsc.gov, click in Safety Education, Safety Education Centers, then Hoverboards.