Hoverboard fallout: Amazon pulling some of the popular gadgets from its site after fires

Amazon is pulling some hoverboards from its site after numerous reports of fires caused by the popular gadget caused a safety concern.

Links to Swagway, a major hoverboard retailer and other companies have been removed from Amazon’s site, Best Reviews first reported.

“Amazon just sent out a notice to all ‘hoverboard’ sellers to ‘provide documentation demonstrating that all hoverboards you list are compliant with applicable safety standards, including UN 38.3 (battery), UL 1642 (battery), and UL 60950-1 (charger),'” a spokesperson for Swagway said in a statement toThe Verge.

This comes after a number of hoverboard-related fires were reported in recent weeks.

In early December, a hoverboard burst into flames while it was charging inside a New York home. Swagway was identified as the brand.

“As safety is always on the forefront for Swagway, we’re glad that this is taking place, especially in light of recent concerns with the fires with the poor quality batteries,” Swagway said in the statement.

Customers can still purchase a hoverboard made by Razor and Jetson.

Amazon isn’t the first online retailer removing the popular tech gadget.

Overstock.com announced earlier this week that it will stop selling hoverboards on its site effective immediately. The online retailer said it is removing them as a safety precaution.

“Customer safety is always our top priority,” Overstock.com General Counsel and Senior Vice President Mitch Edwards said.

Hoverboards have also been prohibited on multiple airlines and cities.

Delta, American, and United airlines banned hoverboards on planes this past week because they pose as a fire danger.

The NYPD said in November that anyone caught using one of these self-balancing scooters in the streets of New York can receive a $200 fine.

The Consumer Electronics Show has also banned the self-balancing scooters from being used at any of the convention’s venues.

The Consumer Technology Association, which hosts CES, posted a note on its website that said:

“Wheeled transport devices (with or without motors) are not permitted at any CES venue. This includes hoverboards, skateboards, uniwheels and all similar products.”

The devices were projected to be one of the top items on holiday wish lists. But now they’re being banned all over the place.