Posted By Bryan Goldsmith 16052 Not heard any thing specific on Mobile Phone chargers but like any other portable electrical appliance require management of the risk. I have seen a similar call on the 'plug in' air fresheners being responsible for a few fires. Regards

Posted By GeoffB4 I attended a fire lecture several years ago where it was quoted that chargers caused numerous fires. I challenged it then and the lecturer could not support his statement. Ever since I have kept a look out for any cases of chargers causing problems and I still have not seen one. That's not to say it doesn't happen but it doesn't seem to be a problem especially when you think of how many chargers there must be - there's 3 in our house alone.

Posted By Neil R There has been several incidents, where a phone left charging has exploded or caught fire, the issue has been the phone battery though not the charger itself. Issue with the battery overheating is the common cause

Posted By sylvia There was an article a few months ago in the business section of the Times about mobile phone batteries overheating and exploding or melting. A friend I showed it to was astonished that such a safety-significant situation was only mentioned in a business feature. I believe it was Nokia - the tale is that the high-powered modern smart phones push the batteries to a critical point and makes "failure" more of a possibility. On holiday in India recently the Indian Times had a story of an unfortunate guy whose phone "exploded" in his pocket ripping his belly open and resulting in a 4 hour operation. A couple of years ago it was laptop batteries (not chargers) and Sony had to recall 4 million. Unfortunately, some people did suffer before the recall; someone I know came back from a short dog walk to find their 600 year old thatched listed cottage surrounded by fire engines. They have not yet moved back into the house. A laptop belonging to the home-working government employee had exploded. They go off like a firework, sending hot metal for yards throughout the area, so in a house can be devastating within only moments. The laptop was from a batch of "used" bargain job lot which had the faulty batteries, but had missed the recall. Shortly after, the government department concerned withdrew all laptops and issued tower CPUs. Safer no doubt, but not so good to use on the train . . So - advice is not to leave laptops or mobiles or anything similar on charge and unattended. The higher powered items / batteries are obviously the most risky.