Federal officials are warning riders of certain electric scooters to stop using them immediately after two people, including a 7-year-old, died in a fire that was sparked by a battery inside the device.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released the urgent warning Monday about the Toos Elite 60-volt electric scooters.
The scooters were sold under the brand name "Zooz" and "Toos" in Toos Urban Ride stores in New York and online.
The fatal fire occurred on April 10, 2023 at an apartment in New York City. Fire officials determined the blaze was sparked by a lithium-ion battery in the scooter, which was being charged by a 48-volt charger also sold by Toos.
According to the CPSC, the Toos Elite 60-volt scooter has not been certified by an accredited laboratory to the applicable UL safety standard.
"UL Solutions has issued a public notice concerning these 48-volt chargers because they bear unauthorized UL certification marks," the agency said. "While the exact cause of the battery's ignition in the fatal fire has yet to be determined, and due to the lack of safety testing or certification by an accredited laboratory, CPSC recommends that consumers stop using the Toos Elite 60-volt scooters regardless of the charger."
Toos Urban Ride has refused to conduct an acceptable recall, the CPSC added.
A person who answered the phone at Toos Urban Ride said the business had closed and declined to comment further, CBS News reported.
Officials are also encouraging consumers to report any incidents involving the Toos scooters or chargers to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.