A faulty phone charger is believed to have sparked a house fire in Quanzhou, Fujian, China, after the charger was reportedly left plugged into a socket beneath a living room sofa.
The fire broke out at a residential property recently and was spotted by neighbours, who immediately called the emergency services.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and, with the occupants’ permission, forced open the front door to enter the house before successfully putting out the blaze.
The fire destroyed the living room, leaving the area badly damaged and covered in debris.
An investigation found that an electrical spark caused by a malfunctioning phone charger had ignited nearby combustible materials.
According to Quanzhou Fire and Rescue, the charger had reportedly been left plugged into a socket underneath the living room sofa.
Following the incident, a neighbour posted footage of the scene on a short-video platform, attracting widespread attention and prompting people from different parts of China to share similar fire incidents.
Firefighters subsequently conducted several tests to demonstrate the potential risks of leaving phone chargers plugged into power outlets even when they are not connected to a phone.
In one experiment, six chargers from different brands were plugged into a power strip and tested using a non-contact voltage detector.
The detector showed signs of electrical current when brought near the chargers, while the metal connectors also triggered readings.
Firefighters said this demonstrated that chargers can remain electrically active while plugged into a power source, even when no phone is connected.
They also used a thermal imaging camera and found that an unplugged charger remained around 5°C warmer than its surroundings.
In another test, firefighters simulated a damaged charging cable causing a short circuit. Within just four minutes, the charger’s temperature rose to 53°C and continued increasing.
They warned that leaving chargers connected to a live power supply for long periods can accelerate the ageing of components and increase the risk of a short circuit or other electrical fault.
How To Charge Your Phone More Safely
Firefighters advised the public to follow these precautions:
- Unplug the charger after use: Once your phone is fully charged, remove the charger from the socket instead of leaving it plugged in.
- Avoid charging overnight: Do not leave your phone charging for unnecessarily long periods, particularly while sleeping.
- Stop using an overheating phone: If your phone becomes unusually hot, stop using or charging it and check for possible battery swelling or other faults.
- Use reliable chargers and batteries: Avoid cheap or poor-quality charging equipment. Where possible, use the original charger or one from a reputable manufacturer that is compatible with your device.
- Avoid mixing incompatible chargers: Using chargers that are unsuitable for your phone can damage the battery and create safety risks.
- Keep phones away from heat: Do not charge or leave your phone in direct sunlight, near a stove or in other high-temperature areas.
- Do not charge near pillows or bedding: Avoid placing a charging phone on a bed or near pillows and blankets. Poor ventilation can cause overheating, while these materials can fuel a fire if the device catches fire.
- Switch off power before leaving home: Check that unnecessary electrical appliances and power sources are switched off before leaving the house.
A simple habit of unplugging chargers after use, firefighters said, could help reduce unnecessary electrical and fire risks at home.
