MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – One person was airlifted to a hospital Tuesday morning after a fire broke out inside a home in Miami Gardens, first responders confirmed.
The fire was reported in the 1700 block of Northwest 187th Street.
According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, firefighters responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the flames.
Officials said one person was injured in the fire and airlifted to a local hospital.
Jesus Valdez told Local 10 News reporter Christina Vazquez that the victim is his 20-year-old grandson.
According to Valdez, the lithium battery inside their robotic vacuum cleaner also known as a “Roomba” exploded, causing a fire to spread inside the living room of his family’s house.
He said his grandson was sleeping in the living room at the time because he has COVID-19.
The Roomba is a proprietary product made by iRobot.
Valdez says that he’s heard of Tesla batteries catching fire, but this is the first time he’s seen or heard of a robotic vacuum cleaner erupting in flames.
The extent of the man’s injuries has not yet been released.
While Miami-Dade Fire Rescue says it is too early in its investigation to confirm the cause, they did offer battery-operated robot vacuum cleaner safety tips, which includes checking for error display messages on the product.
Valdez told Local 10 News that he will toss out his robot vacuum cleaner as soon as he returns home, which is where his family is staying until they are allowed back into their residence.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which issued a recall in August for a robotic pool vacuum due to burn and fire hazards, told Local 10 News they are investigating the cause of Tuesday’s fire.
They are also urging consumers to report any incidents or safety concerns that they might have with any of their products by clicking here.
UL Standards & Engagement’s Executive Director Dr.David Steel also sent Local 10 News a statement/ safety tips regarding lithium-ion batteries, which are found in many household products:
“Many consumers associate the fire with the product, not the battery, but it is the battery that can go into thermal runaway, leading to fire or even explosion. Lithium-ion batteries are found in many household products — from small electronics like laptops and smartphones to larger items like robot vacuums and power tools.” he said. “Warning signs of thermal runaway include: a battery area that is hot to the touch; swollen battery; burning or acrid odor; smoke or fumes; and popping or hissing noises.”
iRobot sent a statement to Local 10 News regarding Tuesday’s incident which you can read here: