Fires Caused By the Xbox
Be careful as you shop for any electronic equipment for Christmas. Consumers, for example, have filed claims for injuries sustained because previous versions of the popular Xbox gaming system have caused fires.
For example, a Hollywood, Fla., couple alleges in a lawsuit that a defective Xbox ignited and caused a fire that severely damaged their home.
According to news reports, Richard Steckler and his wife, Lori, claim in their suit, filed July 25 in a Broward County, Florida court, that Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft was negligent and also liable under strict liability theory for the damage to their home.
Richard Steckler said that he was playing hockey against online opponents around midnight in April 2003 when he paused the game to watch news coverage of the United States invasion of Iraq. Steckler fell asleep on the couch. When he woke up at about 4 a.m., he said he saw flames and smoke.
The Stecklers managed to escape, but one of their dogs died in the fire. Richard sought medical attention for smoke inhalation.
Steckler runs his own video production company, and the fire destroyed more than $50,000 worth of film equipment. That left him out of work for nearly a year, until he could replace the equipment.
The fire also destroyed the home office where the Xbox device was located, according to the fire report. Steckler said the fire caused major damage throughout the rest of the house, which had to be gutted and renovated. The Stecklers spent four months living in a hotel and later with parents until they were able to move back into their own house again.
In February 2005, Microsoft issued a voluntary recall on the power cords on 14.1 million Xbox gaming consoles worldwide because of possible fire hazards, affecting some 70 percent of its gaming systems. According to a company news release, seven customers reported sustaining a minor burn to the hand, and customers reported smoke damage in 23 other cases. Microsoft claims that later versions of the Xbox are not a potential fire hazard.