A hoverboard a teen received for Christmas caught fire at a home in Fox River Grove early Friday.
Firefighters responded to the 500 block of Essex Road just before 5 a.m. Fire Chief Robert Kreher said the board was charging in the family room when it ignited.
“They heard a popping noise and then the smoke detectors went off and then they went down to investigate,” Kreher said.
The family used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze caused by the before firefighters arrived, Kreher said.
“The damage was basically to unit and to some carpet and they did get a lot of smoke damage throughout the house,” Kreher said.
The Fox River Grove incident is one of a growing number of problems reported across the country. Last week, a camera was rolling as a hoverboard exploded on a Los Angeles sidewalk.
Another hoverboard burst into flames inside of a Washington State shopping mall.
The fires have caused numerous airlines to ban hoverboards from planes.
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The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends consumers avoid buying from mall kiosks or websites that can't be easily contacted in the event of a problem.
Additionally, consumers should avoid charging the hover board overnight and never charge it immediately after use.
The agency has directed staff to work non-stop to find the cause of the problem.
