January 30, 2026 – A recent incident report details a severe malfunction involving a GoPro HERO11 Black camera, which resulted in a lithium battery fire during overseas travel. The incident led to a burn injury for the user and the complete destruction of the device.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On October 19, 2025, an incident occurred involving a GoPro HERO11 Black camera. While the user was traveling overseas, the device’s lithium-ion battery ignited, leading to a fire. The precise circumstances leading up to the thermal event, such as whether the camera was in use, charging, or merely stored, were not specified in the report. The battery fire caused significant damage, completely destroying the GoPro camera. More critically, the incident resulted in a burn injury to the user. Details regarding the severity or location of the burn injury were not provided in the incident report, but its occurrence highlights the immediate danger posed by such battery malfunctions.
Safety Concerns
The incident involving the GoPro HERO11 Black camera underscores serious safety concerns associated with lithium-ion batteries in portable electronic devices.
- Immediate Dangers: Lithium-ion battery fires are characterized by rapid, intense heat and can be difficult to extinguish. Immediate dangers include severe burns upon contact, inhalation of toxic smoke and fumes, and the potential for a rapid spread of fire to surrounding materials, especially in confined spaces like luggage or vehicles. The specific burn injury sustained in this incident is a direct demonstration of this immediate danger.
- Long-Term Risks: Victims of severe burns may face long-term physical consequences, including scarring, nerve damage, and reduced mobility. There can also be psychological trauma associated with such incidents. Furthermore, the risk of property damage extends beyond the device itself, potentially affecting personal belongings, hotel rooms, or even modes of transportation if the incident occurs mid-transit.
- Who Might Be Affected: Users of the GoPro HERO11 Black and similar devices are directly at risk. Bystanders, fellow travelers, and emergency responders could also be affected by a battery fire. The potential for such an incident to occur during air travel, for example, poses a significant risk to all passengers and crew.
- Property Damage Potential: Beyond the complete loss of the GoPro device, such fires can destroy luggage contents, personal items, and cause structural damage to vehicles or buildings. The rapid nature of these fires often leaves little time to salvage belongings.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own a GoPro HERO11 Black or similar devices powered by lithium-ion batteries should be aware of these risks and take precautions.
- Immediate Steps to Take: If your device begins to overheat, swell, smoke, or emit a strange odor, immediately power it off, if safe to do so. If it catches fire, prioritize personal safety and evacuation. Do not attempt to extinguish a lithium-ion fire with water; use a Class D fire extinguisher if available, or smother it with sand or a heavy blanket if safe. Seek immediate medical attention for any burns.
- How to Check If They Own the Affected Product: Verify the model of your GoPro camera, typically found on the device itself or in its settings. This incident specifically mentions the HERO11 Black model.
- Prevention Measures:
* Always use genuine GoPro batteries and chargers specifically designed for your device. Avoid third-party accessories unless explicitly approved by the manufacturer.
* Inspect batteries regularly for signs of damage, swelling, leakage, or discoloration. Discontinue use immediately if any of these signs are present.
* Avoid exposing your device or its battery to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, or physical damage (dropping, puncturing).
* Do not store devices or spare batteries in direct sunlight or hot environments, such as a car dashboard.
* If traveling by air, always carry spare lithium-ion batteries in your carry-on luggage, not in checked baggage, and protect terminals from short-circuiting.
- Reporting Procedures: If you experience an incident involving a product malfunction or injury, report it immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov. Also, notify the product manufacturer.
Manufacturer’s Response
GoPro, Inc. has acknowledged the incident, as indicated by the “Manufacturer Response: Yes” in the report. However, the specific details of their response, such as any investigation initiated, proposed resolutions, or consumer safety advisories, are not included in this incident report. Consumers with concerns are encouraged to contact GoPro directly for further information.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.