Woman warns others to be careful after power bank catches fire at her home

A woman has warned other users of the social network Threads about the safety of external batteries, known as power banks, after one of these charging accessories caught fire in her home. She had bought the device two months earlier. Her post drew attention because power banks are now widely used to charge phones and other gadgets.

The woman attached photos showing the damaged battery, along with a scorched floor and carpet. She said she did not want to name the product's brand because she had found no negative reviews of the device. She stressed, however, that such an incident can happen even when nothing previously points to a problem. She added that she was lucky the fire was noticed fairly quickly.

Experiences shared by other users

People shared their own stories in the comments. One commenter wrote that her ten-year-old power bank still works. Others noted that dangerous situations can also arise with devices that have not been used for a while. One user recalled finding a power bank that had sat unused in a cupboard for at least four months swollen, with its casing split open, and said she has not kept one at home since. Another commenter replaced her battery after noticing its casing had cracked, and urged people not to leave devices unattended while charging.

One user described a similar case involving a one-year-old MacBook laptop. Other commenters pointed out that charging devices on a synthetic carpet may contribute to overheating. The comments also included a reminder that damaged lithium-ion batteries can pose a fire risk and must not be thrown out with household waste.

Another commenter added that even a phone left unattended while charging can cause serious damage.