Xbox overheats, burns down house

Important lesson for console gamers (and anyone with any amount of electronics at home, really): One family in Michigan left a seven-year-old original Xbox powered on for up to four days running in their rec room. The console eventually got so hot that it ignited a spiral-bound notebook that had been resting against or near it, and from there went the whole house.

The original Xbox had been the subject of a massive recall for just such an issue, as the power cords shipped with over 14 million of the consoles were implicated in overheating problems just like this one. The owners of the now incinerated unit say they didn't hear about the recall until after the fire had burned their apartment to a crisp.

The family also says their autistic 11-year-old left a CD playing in the unit on endless repeat and never thought that leaving the unit on for extended periods could cause such a problem.

So what do we learn from this issue? First: Yes, leaving most electronic devices on for extended periods of time can lead to overheating, possibly with disastrous consequences. Try to keep all electronics well ventilated, and ensure that air vents are clear of dust and aren't blocked by anything (even a single sheet of paper can be enough to cause a dangerous overheating condition). Don't lock computers or consoles behind closed cabinets, either: Even if they don't burn down the house, you could damage the electronics inside when things get too hot.

Finally, keep tabs on recall notices by checking sites like Recalls.gov from time to time to make sure your gear isn't on the danger list. And of course, if you've still got an original Xbox in use, check out Microsoft's recall information here. Better late than never.