Laptops blamed for fire deaths

Published Thursday August 27th, 2009

British Columbia Coroners Service warns consumers not to leave the devices on soft furniture

VANCOUVER - A laptop computer that burst into flames after being left on a couch is to blame for a Vancouver man's death, prompting a public warning from the British Columbia Coroners Service not to leave the devices on soft furniture.

The 56-year-old man became the first British Columbian to die from a laptop fire earlier this year, when he plugged the device in and left it running on his sofa. The laptop caught fire 50 minutes later and his residence was soon engulfed.

The Coroners Service announced its findings Wednesday following a lengthy investigation.

"The report confirmed that the laptop was the source of the fire," said Jeff Dolan, a Coroners Service spokesman.

"It was placed on furniture with a soft fabric surface and (investigators) were able to trace the fire back to that exact spot."

Dolan said the Coroners Service is advising the public to always operate laptop computers on a hard surface that allows ventilation. Soft materials can block air flow vents and cause the devices to overheat.

During the course of the investigation, Dolan said the Coroner's Service learned that several makes of laptops have been recalled in recent years due to problems with lithium-ion batteries overheating.