TikTok trend has students setting school laptops on fire
HARTFORD, Conn. (WFLA) — A new trend gaining traction on TikTok has students setting fires at schools.
Students are recording themselves shoving things like pencils and metal springs into the charging ports of their school laptops, causing smoke and even flames to erupt, according to a report from NBC affiliate WVIT.
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'The batteries that are essentially catching on fire, once they burn, they're producing this toxic smoke,' Newington fire marshal DJ Zordon said. 'It's more than just a trend. It causes a lot of disruption. The school has to be evacuated, firefighters respond to the fire house and subsequently to the scene, it takes resources from any other emergencies that might be happening at that time.'
Fire officials said the laptops could explode, injuring anyone nearby with burns or pieces of shrapnel.
Dr. Maureen Brummett, superintendent of Newington Public Schools, said the students' actions are not only dangerous, but costly.
'Chromebooks are expensive and they're going up in price, so when a student does intentionally destroy a Chromebook, it's their responsibility to replace it. We have [an] insurance program but it's not covering intentional damage,' Brummett said.
No one was injured in the reported incidents. There is no word on what consequences students could face for participating in this trend.
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