NEWS-04
thousands of them due to potential fire danger posed by their lithium ion
batteries.>
most commonly known as hoverboards linked to nearly one hundred incidents
of sparking, smoking, overheating and catastrophic fires.>
(00:09:18): A major safety recall to tell you about tonight concerning those popular hoverboards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission now recalling hundreds of thousands of them due to potential fire danger posed by their lithium ion batteries. As NBC`s Tom Costello tells us in some cases entire homes have burned to the ground.
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TOM COSTELLO (00:09:38): Included in today`s recall, half a million self- balancing scooters, most commonly known as hoverboards linked to nearly one hundred incidents of sparking, smoking, overheating and catastrophic fires.
MEGAN FOX (Homeowner) (00:09:51): We almost lost two of our children. Two of our children almost died because of a Christmas gift.
TOM COSTELLO (00:09:58): In Nashville the Fox family lost their entire home in January. Investigators determined their new hoverboard had started the fire that then spread through the living room.
ELLIOT KAYE (CPSC Chairman) (00:10:07): All of the models that are recalled were made with fundamental design flaws that put people at real risk.
TOM COSTELLO (00:10:17): So far, roughly seventy-two hundred injuries treated in ERs, while more than half were broken bones from falling, there have also been reports of serious burns. Investigators say the lithium ion batteries can suddenly overheat, melting the plastic casing and causing a fire. None of the recalled models was UL certified.
ELLIOTT KAYE (00:10:35): Improper designs, improper manufacturing, and I would actually say irresponsible sales.
TOM COSTELLO (00:10:42): More than half the recalled hoverboards come from Swagway. Today, the company did not return our calls or emails. But it is now selling models that approved by Underwriters Laboratory.
(00:10:52): And safety regulators say the UL standard is not required. This board is not UL approved. It doesn`t have the stamp of certification on the board or in the box. If yours isn`t approved, you can return it for a refund or repair.
(00:11:06): Tom Costello, NBC News, Washington.
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