CPSC: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 users should power down, stop using phone due to fire hazard

NEW YORK -- Government safety officials are urging anyone with the recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to stop using the device immediately.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the strong warning to all Note 7 users Friday, saying they should "power them down and stop charging or using the device."

The warning comes after some of the lithium-ion batteries in the phones caught fire during charging and normal use.

CPSC and Samsung are working cooperatively to formally announce an official recall of the devices, as soon as possible.

The FAA on Thursday warned airline passengers with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to leave their phones off and not charging when flying.

Last week, Samsung ordered a global recall of the jumbo phones after its investigation of explosion reports found the rechargeable batteries were at fault. In one case, a family in St. Petersburg, Florida, reported a Galaxy Note 7 phone left charging in their Jeep caught fire, destroying the vehicle.

Click here to access Samsung's Note 7 exchange program

Samsung's president of Samsung Electronics America, Tim Baxter, issued a statement Friday that confirmed the company is working with the CPSC.

"New Note7 replacement devices will be issued to exchange program participants upon completion of the CPSC process. In the interim, consumers can return their Note7 for another device," Baxter said.

Meanwhile, the CPSC is asking all consumers to report product safety incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in smartphones via its website, www.SaferProducts.gov.

Here are the details of the recall from Samsung:

The US Note7 Exchange Program offers consumers the following choices:

1. Exchange current Galaxy Note7 device with a new Galaxy Note7 (pending CPSC approval).

2. Exchange current Galaxy Note7 for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge and replacement of any Note7 specific accessories with a refund of the price difference between devices.

Select carrier and retail outlets will also provide customers, who prefer a replacement Note7, with a Samsung loaner phone to use until new Note7s are available.

Additionally, participants in the US exchange program will receive a $25 gift card or bill credit from select carrier or retail outlets.

Galaxy Note7 owners can contact or visit the retail outlet where they purchased their device or call 1-800-SAMSUNG to initiate a product exchange and to resolve any other questions or concerns. This website has also been set up to help users with the exchange.