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Safety agency probing hoverboard fires, injuries

A youth poses as he rides a hoverboard, which is also known as a self-balancing scooter and balance board.
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The hottest Christmas gift of the year has come under investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The group revealed on Monday that it will investigate 22 reports of hoverboard fires that have occurred in at least 17 states.

Combustible batteries have raised the most concern. Alaska Air, United Airlines, Delta and American began banning hoverboards this month from carry-on and checked baggage.

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Amazon.com also yanked some hoverboards from its site and recommended that consumers throw unsafe ones away.

On Monday a hoverboard caught fire at the Deerbrook Mall in Texas. The fire was contained and extinguished before the fire department arrived, according to an NBC affiliate in Houston. Officials said that the mall was not officially evacuated and no one was injured.

Similarly, in New Jersey on Sunday, the Lanoka Harbor Fire Department responded to a call about a hoverboard that caught fire while charging. Officials took to Facebook to warn against leaving devices unattended and to check for manufacturer recalls.

The CPSC has also received 70 reports of emergency room-treated injuries involving hoverboards including fractures, sprains, abrasions, concussions and lacerations caused by falls and collisions.

The organization will continue to open new investigations as reports are received.