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A friend was the chief fire marshall for a very large (1.8 million inhabitants) European city. At night he would go through all the rooms and unplug each and every charger.

He's seen so many fires and has gone to the root cause of them that he sees chargers and batteries as incendiary devices, not consumer electronics.

I'll send this video to him, not that he needs more examples but it is quite striking how fast this goes from 'laptop charging on a desk' to 'office on fire' and what little if any warning there was that this was about to happen.




Then, be extra super wary about any batteries near christmas trees.

(Like, if you pick _one_ takeaway from this and change _one_ thing about your life, maybe that one?)


That's why artificial christmas trees are legitimately safer. If people insist on a real tree then keep it well watered until you throw it away, the dry trees catch fire easier and faster.

I purchased an artificial in no small part for the safety aspect. I do miss the smell though.


"Easier and faster" is an understatement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u5jCPHmevE

That comparison video was by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, from not long before Trump neutered them (http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/375273-trump-is-decim...).


Holy crap, wow! The difference between dry and wet trees is incredibly stark.


Even if you expect it the difference is shocking.


Definitely. We used to do a yearly christmas tree bonfire (including jousting!) until the city put a stop to it. Good times.

Definitely gave me an appreciation for the hazard they pose, tho. Ridiculously flammable.




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