Payless ShoeSource Inc. has pulled a type of lighted sneakers from its store shelves following allegations that they were the source of a fire that scorched part of the insides of a Texas family's SUV last week.
Attila and Jovan Virag purchased the "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" light-up shoes at a local Payless last fall. Warren, their 2-year-old son, left the shoes in the car Friday, and they believe that was when the fire started. The parents report that they opened the car doors the next morning to be greeted by a charred backseat and the smell of burning plastic.
"I saw the shoe on the ground with the wires sticking up and it was a lightbulb, I knew immediately that's what it was," Jovan said.
Half of one of the shoes was burned away, leaving nothing except a sizzled, charred battery and wiring. Taking and dissecting the other shoe, Atilla discovered that lithium batteries power the flashing lights. As such, he concluded that the fire was caused by the battery when it shorted.
"I didn't know there was a little lithium battery in there that could be flammable if you short it," he said.
In light of the incident, the Virags are speaking out to warn other families and have vowed not to buy those types of shoes anymore.
"I don't want this to happen to somebody else, and we're lucky it happened in our car because that can be fixed," Jovan said, "and if he had been wearing it, I don't know if he could have told me, 'My foot's hot,' and I don't think he could take it off by himself."
Payless, when made aware of the incident, released a statement saying it was removing the item from its shelves.
"First and foremost, safety is always a top priority at Payless and we take the claim made by the customer seriously," the shoe chain said. "Out of an abundance of caution we have removed the Boys' Jake Lighted Runner from our shelves and www.payless.com until we can thoroughly investigate a customer claim regarding that shoe. We are continuing to work with the family and local authorities in Houston to better understand the circumstances of the car fire and what may have caused it."
Payless said that the "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" light-up shoes were sold primarily in North American stores, as well as on Payless.com and Payless in Australia.
In the meantime, the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the incident. They have yet to determine the cause of the fire, but the office has confirmed that the light-up shoe was a possible cause.
