A woman sustained minor injuries after a portable fan she had left charging overnight exploded inside her Caloocan City home early Thursday, with CCTV footage capturing the moment the device burst into flames.
The incident took place in Barangay 34, Maypajo, on April 9, while the household was asleep. The homeowner was in bed beside her child and partner when the device overheated and exploded, sending fragments of melted plastic across the room. She was struck by the debris but managed to wake up, pull the plug, and put out the fire before it spread further.
The woman later told authorities she had dozed off while using her phone and forgotten to disconnect the fan from the outlet before sleeping — leaving it plugged in through the night.
Separate CCTV footage from a residence in Barangay 42, South Caloocan, also recorded a portable fan detonating while resting on a bed, underscoring what fire officials described as a broader pattern of risk tied to overnight device charging.
The Bureau of Fire Protection’s Caloocan Central Fire Station cited the incident as a warning about the dangers of leaving electronics unattended while charging. “I remind the public to avoid leaving electronic devices charging while sleeping and to immediately unplug gadgets once fully charged to prevent overheating that may lead to fire incidents,” the BFP said.
The bureau noted that placing charging devices on beds, couches, or other combustible surfaces significantly raises the likelihood of overheating, particularly when the device is left plugged in for extended periods.
