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Important Advisory: Viral Teen Video Resulting in Fire Incidents
The Advisory below came from a PDF issued by The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Department of Fire Services. It has been copied and pasted below for the purposes of accessibility and translation through the website. You can see the original PDF here:
Viral Teen Video Resulting in Fire Incidents
CHARLES D. BAKER, GOVERNOR
KARYN E. POLITO, LT. GOVERNOR
THOMAS A. TURCO, III, SECRETARY
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Department of Fire Services
P.O. Box 1025
State Road
Stow, Massachusetts 01775
(978) 567-3100
Fax: (978) 567-3121
www.mass.gov/dfs
PETER J. OSTROSKEY STATE FIRE MARSHAL
ADVISORY
To: All Heads of Fire Departments/Fire Districts All S.A.F.E. Educators
From: Peter J. Ostroskey, State Fire Marshal
Date: January 21, 2020
RE: Viral Teen Video Resulting in Fire Incidents
I wanted to make you aware of a new viral video that involves the unsafe use of electricity and fire. It involves using the plug part of a phone charger, partially inserting it into the wall outlet, and the sliding a penny down the wall onto the exposed prongs. The result is sparks, electrical system damage, and in some cases fire.
We have had two incidents in Massachusetts that we are aware of: one in Holden where a concerned mother sent a photo of a scorched outlet to a news outlet (see photo), and one at a Westford High School, which the Department of Fire Services investigated. The student(s) responsible for starting the fire at the Westford Academy will face charges.
This video is a concern and similar to past viral videos that encourage unsafe behavior. You might reach out to local news outlets, school officials, and parent organizations. Alert them to this challenge, advise them to, not only look for signs of fire play like scorched outlets, but to have conversations about fire and electrical safety with tweens and teenagers. S.A.F.E. educators might reach out to their school partners because teaching why this is dangerous could be a good science lesson.