Too Hot to Handle: Gaming Mouse Allegedly Burst Into Flame and Almost “Burned Down” User's Apartment

A redditor, u/lommelinn, experienced a shocking incident when their Gigabyte M6880X gaming mouse spontaneously caught fire while their PC was in sleep mode. The user reported smelling smoke and discovering their mouse engulfed in flames, resulting in significant damage to their room, including their modular synthesizer. Fortunately, they were able to extinguish the fire before it escalated further, preventing a potentially catastrophic apartment fire.

The Gigabyte M6880X is an older wired optical mouse, powered by a standard USB 2.0 connection (5V at 0.5A), lacking an internal battery. Images shared online show the mouse's top rear panel completely melted, while the underside remained relatively undamaged. The cause of this localized damage remains unexplained. The images also depict damage to the user's desk and mousepad.

Gigabyte officially responded to the incident, acknowledging the user's report and stating that they have launched an investigation into the matter, prioritizing customer safety and offering support to u/lommelinn.

In a follow-up post, u/lommelinn expressed their bewilderment, emphasizing that their PC was in sleep mode at the time of the incident and that subsequent voltage checks on the USB port revealed no anomalies. The cause of the fire remains a mystery.