Laptop Fire Wakes Sleeping Teen In Hamden: Officials

HAMDEN, CT — A sleeping teenager was awakened by a laptop fire Tuesday night in Hamden, according to fire officials.

Officials said the cause of the fire was a laptop charger charging a spare battery pack.

“The battery pack overheated due to thermal runaway resulting in the carpet starting to burn,” officials wrote in a post on the Hamden Fire Department’s Facebook page. “Thermal runaway is a rapid, uncontrollable chain reaction caused by extreme heat, overcharging, physical damage, or manufacturing defects. The pack made a loud ‘popping’ sound alerting the sleeping teenager to the fire.

“To prevent fire hazards, always use chargers and cables authorized by the manufacturer, never charge devices on soft surfaces like beds, sofas, or pillows, and avoid overnight charging. Inspect cords for damage, keep devices in well-ventilated areas, and unplug chargers when not in use to prevent overheating.”