Kingston house fire caused by charging hoverboard

KINGSTON, Mass. — A hoverboard that was connected to a charger started a fire inside a home in Kingston Sunday evening, Deputy Fire Chief Adam Hatch told Boston 25 News.

Firefighters were called to the home at 131 Country Club Way around 7:30 p.m.

Hatch said the homeowner used a fire extinguisher to put out the majority of the fire after calling 911.

Investigators determined a hoverboard charging in a family room on the third floor of the single-family home started the fire. A newly purchased charging cord was being used for the first time. The battery pack exploded, causing the fire.

The fire extended to nearby furniture, but no one was hurt. The damage is estimated at $10,000.

“Use only chargers supplied with the hoverboard or by the manufacturer," Kingston Fire Chief Mark Douglass said. "Only charge a hoverboard when you are there to watch it and do not charge unattended, especially overnight. Overcharging can cause a fire.”

Hoverboards run on lithium-ion batteries that can overheat. They’ve been linked to dozens of fires nationwide since they first became popular during the 2015 holiday season.

This is the second fire in the past month in Massachusetts that was caused by a hoverboard. In April, a hoverboard charging on the first-floor of a two-family home in Andover started a fire.

“It is important to purchase a hoverboard that has been approved by an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory," Massachusetts Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. "When purchasing online, be on the lookout for fraudulent claims.”

For more information on hoverboard safety or how to check if the Underwriters Laboratory listing is legitimate, go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

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