A robotic vacuum cleaner incident turned fiery Tuesday morning when a Miami Gardens home was engulfed in flames, leading to one person being injured and airlifted for emergency care. Local first responders were dispatched to the scene near 17th Avenue and Northwest 187th Street where Miami-Dade Fire Rescue worked to quickly control the fire, according to reports from Local 10 News and WSVN.
Caught in the flames at the time because he has COVID-19, a family member disclosed that a 20-year-old was sleeping in the living room when the battery-operated vacuum cleaner, presumably a Roomba, exploded due to an apparent lithium battery malfunction. The victim was taken to Mercy Hospital after suffering burns to their lower body, with overhead footage from 7Skyforce showcasing emergency crews managing the crisis. Jesus Valdez, the victim's grandfather, told Local 10 News that the robotic vacuum cleaner, which he had only known Tesla batteries to catch fire, not a household cleaning device, would promptly be discarded upon the family's return home.
Though the investigation remains ongoing, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has yet to confirm the exact cause of the fire but did issue a series of battery-operated robot vacuum cleaner safety tips, advising consumers to watch for error display messages on their devices. In a statement recorded by Local 10 News, Dr. David Steel of UL Standards & Management reminded the public that the issue often lies with the battery rather than the product itself, emphasizing that signs of danger can include heat, swelling, odors, smoke, or oddly disturbing noises coming from the battery area.
iRobot, the company known for manufacturing Roomba vacuums, responded to the event with caution due to limited information. It stated, "This is the first we have heard about the incident, and we have very little information. Without information including an official cause or confirmation that the robot floor cleaner in question is a Roomba and not another company’s product, we are unable to comment further." They assured that customer safety is their top priority and advised users to refer to their product manuals for safety instructions, as reported by Local 10 News. The extent of the man’s injuries released has not yet been, as the situation unfolds further. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has also commenced an investigation into the fire, urging consumers who may have safety concerns with any products to report such incidents.
