Chromebook Social Media Trend

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the State Education Department are aware of a dangerous social media trend known as the “Chromebook Trend” or “Chromebook Challenge." It encourages students to insert lead or metal items like paperclips, pushpins, aluminum foil and mechanical pencils into the USB port of their Chromebook, forcing an electrical short circuit.

This action can result in the failure of the lithium-ion battery in the device, posing a serious fire risk and the production of large quantities of toxic and flammable vapor. The lithium-ion batteries in the laptop can go into thermal runaway, causing the release of flammable and toxic vapors. These vapors can ignite and cause fires and explosions.

Response:

Do not touch the device! Stay as far away from it as possible.

If safe to do so, ensure you remove the power source if the device is plugged into an outlet for charging.

Follow your building fire evacuation plan. Utilize the R.A.C.E. acronym.

R -  Rescue or remove anyone from the immediate area of the event

A -  Alarm / notify the building occupants by activating the fire alarm system

C -  Confine the area by closing the door behind you when evacuating

E -  Evacuate the building. Do not stay in the area of the device even if there is no visible flame. The smoke released from a battery is toxic and flammable. Extinguish the fire only if it is blocking your exit path and you are trapped. Lithium-ion batteries require specialized techniques to properly extinguish them. Do not attempt to fight a fire if you are not trained to do so.

Report any suspicious activity involving tampering with battery powered electronic devices.

Remove any damaged battery powered electronic devices and dispose of them in accordance with recommended safety practices.

Notify all staff including bus drivers and student guardians, and parents of this trend.

If a device is tampered with at school and it does not fail (catch fire, explode or create vapor), it can still fail and cause a fire or explosion at a much later time when the device is off property such as on a school bus or at home or left unattended.

If a device has been tampered with, do not plug the device in to a power source to charge it.

School Response Guidance Document (PDF)

Response:

Fire Departments responding to calls for these incidents should:

1. Respond to the event as you would any other fire.
2. Evacuate the building or vehicle of staff and students.
3. Wear full PPE including SCBA – smoke from lithium batteries is especially toxic.
4. Extinguish any remaining fire.
5. Ventilate the building or vehicle.
6. Monitor the air – Some toxic bi-products may not be measurable with a standard 4-gas meter.
7. Remove any power to the device.
8. If a run-away reaction of the device has occurred, don’t assume that reaction is over, additional reactions are possible. Do not handle the device unnecessarily.
9. Consider calling your local hazmat team.
10. Overpack the device, while wearing complete firefighter PPE (including SCBA), in an appropriate drum with appropriate overpacking materials. – Do not handle the device unnecessarily.
11. Remove the overpacked container from the building
12. Contact and environmental cleanup contractor (call2recycle.org)
13. Notify Law Enforcement – this incident can be considered a criminal in nature.
14. Notify OFPC of the incident by sending an email to [email protected]

OFPC is available for Technical Assistance regarding these incidents and can be reached at 518-474-6746.

Fire Department Response Guidance Document (PDF)