Amazon Echo Show 5 'exploded' in disabled boy's bedroom

Abdulla Maflehi says his son Jakob's beloved Echo Show 5 device caused toys, clothes and furniture to go up in flames - causing at least £5,000 worth of damage. 

Jakob, who is aged 14 with Down's Syndrome, used the device to listen to music in his room. 

On Sunday, February 6, Mr Maflehi's 15-year-old son Gabriel was at their Peel Street home when he saw smoke billowing out of his brother's room. 

He quickly called his dad who was supporting an ill friend in a home nearby. 
Mr Maflehi, aged 50, said: “The whole room has been devastated. The fire service had to throw everything out of the window.

“It set everything alight in ten minutes.”

Fire damage to the wall of the bedroom

Firefighters from Wyre Forest Station were called out to tackle the blaze. 

Jakob was at his mum's house at the time of the fire. No one was hurt after it broke out. 

Mr Maflehi added: “I bought him the device to play music for him. He loved it to bits. 

“Luckily he wasn’t at the house at the time. I haven’t told him still what happened."

Damage caused by the fire

Following the incident, Mr Maflehi complained about the faulty device to Amazon. He said they offered him a £100 voucher, which covers the cost of the Echo Show 5. 

However, he declined the offer, feeling "fobbed off" by Amazon, who he said aren't "not taking responsibility" for the thousands of pounds worth of damage caused.

Mr Maflehi with the Echo Show 5 box "It's a total insult," he said. 

"It's caused so much damage."

A spokesperson for Amazon said: “We care deeply about the safety of our customers and understand this has been a difficult time for Mr Maflehi and his family. 

"We take several steps to ensure the safety of our devices including rigorous testing by our own teams and third party labs, and we are confident our Echo devices meet our strict safety standards.”

UPDATE: Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has updated its findings following the fire - read more here.