Aug 27 2007Laptop Fire Case Study
Well by now I'm sure you're aware that laptops and cell phones have been blowing up all over the place recently, and I present to you this case as an example of what not to do when something of yours explodes.
Douglas Brown, a computer network administrator from Columbus, Georgia said his Dell 9200 wide-screen laptop's batteries exploded into flames, it "looked like fireworks which would have been cool had it not been in my house." Brown called 911 and the fire department responded with two pumpers, a ladder truck, the HAZMAT unit, an ambulance and the battalion chief.
Now I've told many women I've met in bars that I'm a forensic scientist, so I practically am. And based on my expert opinion I'm going to have to say that this Douglas character should have his "man" status revoked and be demoted to "infant". Look at that fire, does that look 911 worthy? I've put out bigger flames on birthday cakes. In the time it took him to dial 911 I'm pretty confident he could have put that fire out with, well, anything. So, when something of yours goes boom, don't be a Douglas, stomp the damn thing like any normal person would.
Laptop Fire Case Study [therawfeed]
Reader Comments
1. My name is Wepeel - August 27, 2007 2:59 PM
FIRST!!!
FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!!!!!!!
2. bonzo420 - August 27, 2007 3:00 PM
dont be a douglas !
its dumass you DUMB ASS!!
420
HOLLA!!
3. aztech - August 27, 2007 3:22 PM
man I have a Dell laptop too...
4. Raiku - August 27, 2007 3:25 PM
I wonder if he also calls animal control when he spots a spider in his bathtub.... oy vey
5. bagheerajane - August 27, 2007 3:26 PM
I agree. A real man would have pissed that out and then had a beer to celebrate.
6. Tenchi059 - August 27, 2007 3:53 PM
This is funny on so many levels I'm not even sure I'm getting all of them right now!
7. MrGutts - August 28, 2007 6:46 AM
I am ashamed to be living in the same freaking state as this chicken shit.. He better not be stationed down in Ft Benning..
8. CFD - August 28, 2007 6:57 AM
Because it was a battery fire, calling the fire department was the legal thing to do, because it is hazardous materials.
9. meh - August 28, 2007 9:25 AM
I always enjoy the satire that you write with on geekologie. But a battery fire really is a serious thing. once the battery ignites it is the metal in the battery that is burning ( which is typically Lithium). Because it is the Metals of the battery that are burning it is not something that is easily put out. A burning battery cannot be put out by normal means and the best way to put it out is to simply let it burn out. but are you just going to leave a flaming laptop sitting in your house? i wouldn't.
I just thought I would write this so everyone understands that there is a real safety risk if your laptop battery catches on fire
keep up the witty banter geekologie!
10. Michael Robinson - August 28, 2007 10:11 AM
Having tried to put out a plastic fire with my foot, I can say that it's not a good idea with certainty. Melted shoes and minor burns are not fun. :)
11. jumpin J - August 28, 2007 12:09 PM
Huh huh... yeah! Woah! Fire! ... Fire... it rules! Huh huh ... cool! Hey Butthead, let's go break something!
12. Young Davis - August 28, 2007 1:08 PM
Why wouldn't he just press the restart button?
13. douglas brown - August 29, 2007 1:24 AM
hello, this is douglas brown the guy with the burnt laptop, i was unable to get pictures of the batts exploding but it was very cool looking so i got the picture of the small flame. as for the guy in benning give me a call 706-405-0576 im in columbus with my office being down town.
this is a copy of a post
hello, this is Douglas brown the guy with the burnt laptop yes the laptop was on the recall list but the battery when I checked it was NOT in the range of batteries that where recalled. DELL replaced the laptop with a new XPS (COOL!!!) and said that they will cover the damages to my house.
Anyone else that would like to call me ignorant please call me at 706-405-0576 thanks Douglas
Opps, one more thing DELL never sent out anything requesting info on this laptop regarding the battery as they did others that where suspect.
14. bagheerajane - August 31, 2007 7:52 PM
#9 - Thanks mom.
15. katie - September 2, 2007 1:42 PM
man am I glad I'm addicted to this site! I have that exact same laptop and for the past week or so it has been blowing circuits in my house, overheating, and randomly losing power.... anyone know if these are being recalled?
16. Dell optiplex - April 20, 2009 7:04 AM
I've bought the 1521 laptop a couple of days ago. What can I say?
It's perfect. The batteries works up to 4 hours (if you power off
the wireless interfaces). Also, I was lucky enough to get the model
without that TrueLife glossy screen. The bad thing is that the laptop
only comes with Windows Vista, and therefore has only Vista drivers.
It was somehow hard to find the Windows XP drivers for all presented
devices, but finally I have found them all.
Again - this laptop is just perfect.