Woodmere Fire Dept: Israel laptop fire prompts local concern

Israeli news has reported a tragic fire in Rehovot claiming the lives of six members of the Shaer family, Guy Shaer (38) and his children Eliav (11), Eviatar (8), Amitai (7), Shira (3) and Itamar (one year old). The wife and mother, Avivit, was the family’s sole survivor.

Israeli fire services attribute the blaze to a laptop computer that was placed on a bed.

Lenny Cherson, Assistant Chief of the Woodmere Fire Department stressed important safety measures. “In my tenure, we have never responded to a fire emanating from a laptop. It would be the recommendation of any trained fire safety personnel not to go to sleep with any electronic equipment in bed. Equipment such as a laptop has numerous electronic components compressed in a small area and when it is on a bed theres limited required ventilation.”

The National Fire Prevention Association sets standards nationwide and lists recommendations on their website ( www.nfpa.org) in addition to information about numerous battery recalls.

Assistant Chief Cherson advises unplugging the laptop, and leaving it on a formica, granite or glass countertop.