Latest news with #JonDavine
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Dangerous TikTok trend sparks fires in laptops — and Mass. teens are trying it at school
More than a dozen teenagers in Massachusetts have tried a dangerous TikTok trend, prompting a warning from fire officials. The TikTok trend has teenagers inserting a paper clip, pencil lead, or other conductive object into a laptop computer's charging port or other port. This can cause a short circuit that increases the device's temperature or causes smoke, sparks, or a fire, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon Davine warned. At least 14 teenagers have attempted the trend in the past week but fire officials believe the number is higher. 'No matter how smart your kids or students might be, please impress upon them that the only thing you should place in a computer port is the appropriate cord,' said Davine. Most of the reported incidents were interrupted by teachers who spotted the abuse of school-issued laptops, fire officials said. The incidents occurred in Barnstable County, Essex County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Middlesex County, and Worcester County beginning on or about May 6. So far, only one minor injury has been reported but heavy smoke and device damage have been reported in some cases, officials said. 'Unfortunately, social media trends involving risky fire-related behavior are not new,' a press release stated. 'In 2020, numerous electrical fires and damage were reported after another challenge promoted dropping a coin onto the prongs of a power plug partially inserted into a wall outlet.' Lucky for Life winner: $25,000 a year for life prize won in Massachusetts University system of Northeast state recommends closing a third of its campuses It was labeled and looked like Adderall. But thousands of pills were meth and caffeine Superior Court judge denies city's request to dismiss portion of police officers wage theft lawsuit 32-year-old Sandwich man seriously injured in motorcycle crash Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Social media challenge involving laptop fires sparks warnings after incidents reported in Mass.
A social media challenge involving laptop fires has sparked concern among fire officials, who are urging parents and teachers to warn children about the serious dangers of tampering with the devices. Fourteen incidents and attempts have been reported in Massachusetts, but several more incidents have likely gone unreported, state Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in a statement on Thursday. 'We've received more than a dozen reports from Massachusetts fire departments of young people engaging in this behavior in less than a week,' said Davine. Since around May 6, incidents have been reported in Barnstable, Essex, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcester counties. So far, only one minor injury has been reported, Davine said. Heavy smoke and device damage have been reported in other cases. Most of the reported incidents were interrupted by teachers who spotted the abuse of school-issued laptops, Davine said. Davine said the trend, which appears to have started on TikTok, promotes inserting a paper clip, pencil lead, or other conductive object into a laptop computer's charging port or other port. This can cause a short circuit that increases the device's temperature or causes smoke, sparks, or a fire – any of which could injure a young user, he said. 'There are probably many more that responsible adults haven't heard of or officially reported,' Davine said. 'No matter how smart your kids or students might be, please impress upon them that the only thing you should place in a computer port is the appropriate cord.' Davine said he has circulated a notice about the nationwide trend to local fire chiefs. Foxboro Fire Chief Michael Kelleher, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, called the challenge 'dangerous' as laptops are typically powered by lithium-ion batteries. 'Today's electronic devices pack a lot of power into small containers, and tampering with them is dangerous,' Kelleher said. 'Almost all modern laptops are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which can erupt in sparks and flames when damaged or abused. An event like that will injure anyone close by. The fire can easily spread to clothing, bedding, upholstery, and furniture.' Fire officials said unfortunately, social media trends involving risky fire-related behavior are not new. In 2020, numerous electrical fires and damage were reported after another challenge promoted dropping a coin onto the prongs of a power plug partially inserted into a wall outlet, Davine said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Metro
15-05-2025
- Metro
Students busted for TikTok 'Chromebook Challenge' to insert objects in laptops
Students across the US are partaking in a viral TikTok trend that involves inserting foreign objects into Chromebook laptops, leading to fires and arrests. The growing 'Chromebook Challenge' entails putting a paper clip, pencil lead or other object into the charging or USB port of a laptop often issued from a school, and forcing it to short circuit. In some instances, the devices have heated up, started smoking and caught on fire. The phenomenon can be triggered when lithium-ion batteries are tampered with and experience thermal runway, which can cause them to emit toxic fumes, explode or become damaged. Last week, a 13-year-old California girl was arrested for arson in connection with a laptop getting on fire. Most of the reports of dangerous instances arising from the challenge have come from teachers. Numerous warnings have been issued as the trend spreads among the youth in America. There have been at least 15 incidents of students intentionally inserting objects into Chromebooks within the Exeter Region Cooperative School District in New Hampshire. 'This is not only a matter of property damage – these actions present a serious toxic smoke and fire hazard, both at school and at home,' stated the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham. 'Please discuss this issue with your students and reinforce the seriousness of tampering with any school-issued technology.' More Trending The middle school has informed students that any damages to Chromebooks done on purpose will incur replacement fines of up to $320. In Massachusetts schools, there were 14 incidents tied to the challenge reported in less than a week. State Fire Marshal Jon Davine believes the challenge has been done more times than the number recorded. 'So far, only one minor injury has been reported but heavy smoke and device damage have been reported in some cases,' stated Davine. 'No matter how smart your kids or students might be, please impress upon them that the only thing you should place in a computer port is the appropriate cord.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Urgent recall of soups, rice and porridge mixes over 'life-threatening' risk in US MORE: Ukrainian man charged with arson over fires at properties linked to Sir Keir Starmer MORE: History of Air Force One as Trump eyes accepting $400,000,000 Qatari plane
CBS News
15-05-2025
- CBS News
"Chromebook challenge" warning issued after more than a dozen incidents in Massachusetts schools
The state fire marshal is warning parents and teachers about the TikTok "Chromebook Challenge" trend after 14 incidents at Massachusetts schools in less than a week. Fire Marshal Jon Davine says the social media trend involves putting an object like a paper clip or pencil lead into a laptop's charging or USB ports, which can cause the computer to short circuit. The device can then heat up and start smoking, potentially leading to a fire that could hurt someone. "So far, only one minor injury has been reported but heavy smoke and device damage have been reported in some cases," the fire marshal said in a statement. Most of the reports have come from teachers. Davine suggests "there are probably many more" incidents involving the challenge that haven't been reported. "No matter how smart your kids or students might be, please impress upon them that the only thing you should place in a computer port is the appropriate cord," Davine said. "Chromebook Challenge" incidents at New Hampshire school Fire officials across the country have warned about the dangers of the viral challenge. A 13-year-old girl in California was arrested for arson last week after the the computer caught fire. One school in New Hampshire said last week that it saw 15 incidents of the challenge over three days, in which students "intentionally inserted" objects into the charging or USB ports of their Chromebooks. "This is not only a matter of property damage—these actions present a serious toxic smoke and fire hazard, both at school and at home," the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham said in a statement. "Please discuss this issue with your students and reinforce the seriousness of tampering with any school-issued technology." The school says any student that intentionally damages a Chromebook will be responsible for the replacement cost of up to $320.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lithium battery causes Granby house fire, saved by home sprinkler system
GRANBY, Mass. (WWLP)– A home in Granby was saved after a sprinkler system was activated. According to the Fire Marshal's office, the Granby Fire Department was called to a home for a reported fire on Chicopee Street at 8:45 p.m. Thursday. Crews found the fire extinguished when they arrived and the damage was contained to the flooring and nearby items. Crews put out car fire on Mass Pike in Palmer 'As a rule of thumb, a residential fire can double in size every 30 seconds and become deadly in a matter of minutes,' said Granby Deputy Chief Tyler Yvon. 'The growth and spread of this fire were stopped by the home's fire sprinkler system, which not only minimized property damage but may have prevented injury or worse. They were especially valuable because this home was in an area without hydrants, and we would have been working with limited water supply in our initial attack on the fire.' 'The home's sprinkler system functioned just as it was designed to, and it protected the residents from what could have been a multiple-alarm fire,' said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. 'Sprinklers are the fastest way to get water on a fire before it gets out of control.' It was determined the cause of the fire was a lithium polymer battery left unattended in a charger. Davine said that fires caused by lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries continue to rise as more devices are being manufactured that require this type of battery. Fire officials suggest using only the battery, cord, and charging equipment provided by the manufacturer and always disconnecting the device when charging is complete. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
