Only 3 seconds! Explosive combustion! Many people carry it with them

Recently, a fire broke out in a residential area in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie, Hunan. Two owners were awakened by smoke and did not escape blindly. Instead, they stayed in the bedroom to take protective measures and called the fire alarm number 119 in time. The video shows that the fire started from a power bank placed on the sofa in the living room.

Suddenly, a lot of sparks appeared on the sofa, and it was in an explosive combustion state in just 3 seconds. After the sparks ignited the sofa, the fire quickly expanded and spread.

After the fire rescue personnel arrived at the scene, they quickly launched fire fighting and rescue operations and rescued the trapped people in time.

Mobile power supplies, also known as power banks, have gradually entered thousands of households with the popularity of smart phones and mobile tablets. However, in recent years, safety accidents caused by power banks have occurred frequently across the country.

At the end of May 2023, on Beijing Subway Line 7, a power bank in a passenger's bag suddenly exploded, and a large amount of thick smoke instantly filled the entire carriage. Fortunately, the staff handled it in time and no casualties were caused.

In January 2023, a fire broke out in a self-built house in Guiping, Guangxi in the early morning, killing a family of four in the house. According to preliminary investigation, the fire was caused by a short circuit in a mobile power bank. On-site inspection found that the mobile power bank was suspected to be a counterfeit product.

In September 2021, a fire broke out in a resident's home in Dongguan, Guangdong. Fortunately, the fire department put out the fire in time and no casualties were caused. According to preliminary investigations, the cause of the fire was a circuit failure in the power bank that was charged overnight.

Power banks are considered a panacea for extending the life of mobile phones, and many people carry them with them every day. Under what circumstances might they spontaneously combust or explode?

Unable to dissipate heat. Placing the power bank in an environment that is not conducive to heat dissipation, such as a quilt or box, or placing the power bank in hot weather or in a high-temperature area such as a heating chassis may cause the power bank to spontaneously combust or explode.

Overcharging. Do not overly rely on the overcharge protection of the power bank. Leaving the charger plugged in after it is fully charged will not only reduce the life of the power bank, but long-term overcharging may also cause the power bank to explode.

Poor quality products. Some low-quality power banks use low-quality batteries and circuit boards, which pose serious safety risks. These power banks are prone to abnormal conditions such as short circuits and overheating during charging or use, which can cause explosions.

Dropping, bumping, squeezing, etc. Dropping, bumping, squeezing, etc. may cause internal parts to be misaligned, battery cores to leak, etc., which may cause the power bank to explode. If the power bank shell bulges slightly, it must be stopped from use.

Frequent use: Frequent use of the power bank will shorten its life and bring the possibility of explosion.

Source: China Fire, Zhangjiajie Fire, Xiaogan Fire, Zhejiang Voice, The Paper, @Ministry of Emergency Management