The Consumer Product Safety Commission is expanding its investigation into hoverboards, after dozens of injuries and several house fires blamed on the popular Christmas gift.
Among the statistics: 14 year old Harrison Mabjish of Northern Kentucky, who is spending his winter in a cast.
He fractured his leg in 3 places when he fell off a hoverboard right after Christmas.
"It went out from under me and it came back and rolled under me and I tripped over it," Mabjish said.
House Fires the Major Issue
But broken ankles and wrists are not the biggest concern.
- A Louisiana family blames a hoverboard for the fire that destroyed their home.
- A hoverboard fire in Santa Rosa California, meantime, is blamed for the death of two dogs.
- And people across the world are posting videos of hoverboards on fire, in homes, on sidewalks, and even in shopping malls.
Stores React to Concerns
Due to all the reports of fires and injuries, Amazon has pulled most of the boards offered on its site. And a growing number of local toy stores won't even sell any hoverboards now.
Instead they are showing parents self powered options for children who want something to ride.
Lara Bauer of Cincinnati's King Arthur's Court Toys in Oakley said they looked into selling the popular toys, but says "we chose to stay away from it. We chose to sell more kid powered alternatives."
Instead, she shows parents a full assortment of non electric scooters,
"I have a number of different sizes, we have adults that hop on them, and we have 3 year olds that hop on them," she said.
What Parents Can Do
What if you have already have a hoverboard?
Cincinnati's Fire Department says while they have no reports of fires in the city, owners should still be careful.
Captain Maurice Vasser says the fires appear to start while charging the lithium battery, so he says only charge it when you are nearby and awake.
"Don't charge it overnight when you are asleep, because if it were to catch fire you would know it, you charge it during the day you can catch it before something goes wrong."
Still uncomfortable? Amazon will now refund your money if you bought one there.
Harrison's Mabjish's father has now done exactly that.
"I shipped it back the second day," he said. He didn't want to have it around the house.
As always, don't waste your money.
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