USC bans hoverboards from campus dorms

The University of South Carolina has banned hoverboards from its dorms after reports nationwide of their batteries catching fire.

The college also banned the motorized boards to avoid possible collisions inside USC’s 26 residence halls, spokesman Jeff Stensland said Wednesday.

Classes resume Monday after the winter break.

USC does not know how many students use hoverboards, but they have been spotted on campus this year. The school has no reports of major incidents involving the boards that range in price generally from $250 to $600.

A tweet posted Wednesday by the university said the hoverboard ban took effect Jan. 1. USC already bans motorized vehicles, such as mopeds, inside residence halls.

“We wanted to get information out specifically on hoverboards since they’ve been a popular holiday gift item this year,” Stensland said. “The best advice for returning students living on campus is to leave them at home.”

USC administrators are considering a campuswide ban, Stensland said. Other schools — including the University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University and American University — prohibit hoverboards on campus.

Hoverboards have been the focus of attention in recent months because of battery fires, which triggered an investigation by the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission.

A hoverboard caused a small fire inside a Mauldin home last week, authorities said. A teen who received a hoverboard for Christmas just had finished charging his board when its batteries exploded and flew about 20 feet across the living room. No one was injured.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 3:36 PM with the headline "USC bans hoverboards from campus dorms."