A redditor's gaming mouse spontaneously combusted, nearly causing a house fire. The user, u/lommelinn, reported waking to the smell of smoke and discovering their Gigabyte M6880X mouse engulfed in flames. The incident occurred while their PC was in sleep mode.
The resulting fire, though quickly extinguished, left significant damage to the mouse (primarily the top rear panel), the user's desk, and even a nearby modular synthesizer. Images show extensive melting to the mouse and desk. The cause of the fire, considering the mouse is a wired, optical model with a low-power USB 2.0 connection, remains a mystery.
Gigabyte, the manufacturer, acknowledged the incident and launched an official investigation, contacting the user to offer support and determine the root cause of the malfunction. The user, expressing disbelief, confirmed their PC was in sleep mode at the time and that the USB port showed no voltage irregularities. The incident highlights the unexpected potential for electronic device failure, even in seemingly low-risk scenarios.
