Plainfield, IL – A charging hoverboard sparked a basement fire early Monday morning, resulting in the death of a family pet and displacing a family in Will County. The fire, reported at 1:55 a.m., caused approximately $150,000 in damage to the Plainfield home.
Firefighters from the Plainfield Fire Protection District arrived within six minutes of the 911 call, finding smoke pouring from the basement door. The family, who were asleep at the time, managed to escape unharmed, thanks to functioning smoke alarms. Tragically, their pet could not be saved.
According to the Plainfield Fire Protection District, the fire was determined to be accidental, caused by a hoverboard that was charging in the basement. The fire was contained to the basement, but the house sustained significant damage and was deemed uninhabitable.
Multiple neighboring fire departments, including Bolingbrook, Lockport, Naperville, and Oswego, assisted at the scene. Authorities are reminding residents to regularly test their smoke alarms and to ensure that any electronic devices are properly monitored while charging.
