By Michala Medved and Sarah Shaw, staff writers

One of the popular, new attractions sweeping the nation is the hoverboard. Lately they have been one of the hottest items on the market – and when we say hot, we mean these devices are literally erupting into flames. So why is an item this popular catching on fire?  There have been twelve incidents in the United States alone involving the batteries of the hoverboards catching on fire, destroying small areas to areas as big as homes. So why are consumers still purchasing them?

Some individuals say  there are brands that are completely safe and some that are not. Two Saegertown students actually received hoverboards this past Christmas.

“My mom said we got a safe one, so I’m not worried,” said eighth grader Matthew Posego. Another student said she had received a brand that was heard of catching fire before and are not safe to travel on airplanes with.

“I’m not worried about it, but I’m not taking it on an airplane,” said freshman Mikayla Balog. Both students are aware of the dangers of the hoverboard, but say they’ll still use them for the sake of them being fun.

But hoverboards are just like any other technology based item; cell phones are also known to catch fire, so something like this will not cause consumers to stop purchasing. The hoverboard provides many features that interest people. Not only do they allow quick transportation up to 12 mph, but they can also travel a distance of 8-12 miles. This 27.5 pound item allows weight up to 265 pounds, and is battery operated, which requires charging time of 2-3 hours.

This item has caused such an uproar that colleges, airports, malls and even states are looking to ban them, but will this stop you?