Sponsored message
Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman: Follow live results in LA's mayoral election
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

Hoverboard catches fire in Koreatown

KNUTSFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 13:  A youth poses as he rides a hoverboard, which are also known as self-balancing scooters and balance boards, on October 13, 2015 in Knutsford, England. The British Crown Prosecution Service have declared that the devices are illegal as they are are too unsafe to ride on the road, and too dangerous to ride on the pavement.  (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it is looking into at least 10 reports of the self-balancing electric scooters bursting in flames.
(
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Following incidents of hoverboards catching fire and being banned from airlines and Metrolink trains, another one caught fire on a Koreatown sidewalk Wednesday, NBCLA reports.

Delvon Simmons said was riding his hoverboard around 11:45 a.m. near Vermont Avenue and W. 8th Street when the wheels began smoking, according to NBCLA.

Simmons' cell phone video shows him watching as his hoverboard burst into flames and firefighters arrive to put it out with an extinguisher. No one was injured.

Police confirmed the incident to KPCC but could not confirm other details like where Simmons got the hoverboard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it is looking into at least 10 reports of the self-balancing electric scooters bursting in flames.

These incidents prompted United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta to ban hoverboards from their cabins and cargo holds.

And as of Jan. 4, Metrolink will ban hoverboards from their trains. 

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today