{"id":529268,"date":"2026-04-13T22:19:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T22:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/529268\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T22:19:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T22:19:11","slug":"firefighters-called-to-school-after-laptop-set-on-fire-in-social-media-trend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/529268\/","title":{"rendered":"Firefighters called to school after laptop set on fire in ‘social media trend’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Firefighters were called to a school in West Dunbartonshire after a laptop was allegedly set on fire as part of a social media trend.<\/p>\n

The council confirmed fire crews attended a school last month following a small fire believed to be connected to the vandalism of an electronic device.<\/p>\n

It follows a trend on social media, which gained popularity in America last year, called the \u201cChromebook challenge\u201d in which pupils jam items into laptop charging ports, which can cause fires.<\/p>\n

The incident is understood to have happened at Our Lady & St Patrick\u2019s High in Dumbarton.<\/p>\n

No one was injured and there was no wider damage caused, the council said.<\/p>\n

Pupils in schools across the region have been spoken to regarding the issue and parents have been informed via letters.<\/p>\n

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service says enquiries into the incident are ongoing and has warned of the dangers surrounding the trend.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson said: \u201cWe are aware of a significantly worrying trend being distributed on social media around Chromebook Laptops.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaptops are powered by Lithium-Ion Batteries which can have devastating consequences of fire, releasing toxic gases which can overcome individuals very quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition, they can explode and cause serious injuries to anyone near them, or where they have been tampered with, could have a delay in igniting, sometimes when unattended.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone attempting to undertake any actions identified within the trend are committing a criminal offence and could be prosecuted for wilful fire raising.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore importantly, they are risking the lives of themselves and others and we would encourage parents or peers to raise awareness of these serious concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson said: \u201cThe Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended one of our schools following a small fire believed to be connected to the vandalism of an electronic device.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNo-one was injured and there was no wider damage caused.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have spoken with pupils in our schools and have also lettered parents for awareness.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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