The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a voluntary recall of the Lithion-Ion batteries used in Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell Notebook Computers.

Apparently, the batteries can overheat, posing both a fire hazard and a burn hazard.

So far, two consumers report experiencing minor burns. There have been nineteen reports of the batteries overheating. Seventeen of those sparked a fire and caused minor damage.

The recall effects about 35,000 batteries and an additional 65,000 batteries worldwide. Sony Energy Devices of Japan manufactures the battery cell.

Computers with the recalled batteries were sold directly by Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell, through computer and electronics stores nationwide, and through various Web retailers for between $700 and $3,000.

The batteries were also sold separately for between $100 and $160.

For specific information on which computers and batteries are effected, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09035.html

If you have one of the recalled batteries, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says you should immediately remove the recalled battery from their notebook computer, and contact the computer manufacturer to determine if their battery is included in the recall and to request a free replacement battery.

After removing the recalled battery from their notebook computer, consumers may use the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives. Consumers should only use batteries obtained from their computer manufacturer or an authorized reseller.