March 12, 2017
Fire investigators in Harrisburg believe a Friday blaze that killed a three-year-old girl and critically injured two other people was likely caused by recharging hoverboard, marking the latest in a series of incidents linked to the battery-charged scooters.
The Harrisburg fire, which occurred around 8 p.m. Friday, claimed the life of Ashanti Hughes and left two other girls in critical condition at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, according to the Associated Press. Two other women were rescued from the property by ladder, while two men also managed to escape with minor injuries.
In the chaotic rush to the scene, Harrisburg Fire Lieutenant Dennis DeVoe's vehicle was struck at an intersection. He later died of his injuries at Hershey Medical Center. The 19-year-old driver of the striking vehicle was arrested and charged with DUI, aggravated assault and related counts.
Officials ruled the fire accidental and said that it appears to have stemmed from a recharging hoverboard on the first floor of the property. Occupants of the home reported hearing "sizzling and crackling" in the device before it reportedly burst into flames.
Self-balancing scooters have drawn intense scrutiny since they emerged as a hot holiday item in 2015. An investigation by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed a heightened risk of fires, particularly among imported models, and warned that some hoverboards failed to comply with safety standards set by the Underwriters Laboratory.
By mid-2016, retailers including Amazon.com, Toys R Us and Target removed hoverboards from their stores and websites.
At the time of the CPSC statement in Feb. 2016, data from a two-month period leading up to the report found that 52 hoverboard-related fires in 24 states had caused $2 million in property damage. Nearly 501,000 of the scooters were recalled after the agency determined lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, start fires and potentially explode.
"We've seen too many fires and too many fire fatalities as a result of these hoverboards," said Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline.
