ULRI Experts Warn about Risks Fast and Intense Fires

The article talks about, 'Students who take part in TikTok’s “Chromebook challenge” aren’t just playing with fire — they’re risking lithium-ion battery fires that burn hotter and faster and are harder to extinguish than most other fires.

The recent social media trend has prompted students throughout the country to try to short-circuit their lithium-ion powered tablets or laptops by inserting lead or metal items like paperclips into one of the device’s ports. Fires caused by the viral challsemruenge could be more severe than the students realize, UL Research Institutes experts warn.

“Lithium-ion battery fires are more intense than other fires and emit toxic gases,” said Steve Kerber, Ph.D., ULRI’s Fire Safety Research Institute executive director and vice president. “You could have very little time to escape this type of fire; students need to understand how hazardous this TikTok challenge is.'