Parents and baby rescued from burning apartment: 'A laptop left charging on the sofa caused the fire'
The three were rescued from the apartment in Herzliya and evacuated to the hospital in light condition. Fire investigators determined the source of the fire. The Fire and Rescue Authority warns: placing a computer on a sofa or bed may block ventilation openings and cause overheating.
A pair of parents and a baby were rescued early Wednesday morning from a fire that broke out in an apartment on Rabbi Kook Street in Herzliya, and were evacuated to the hospital in light condition. An initial investigation reveals that a laptop left charging on a sofa in the living room caused the fire.
Fire and rescue teams from the Herzliya station who were called to the scene conducted searches in the apartment to locate the residents, and simultaneously worked to extinguish the fire. Fire investigators who arrived at the scene later determined that the source of the fire was the laptop that was being charged in the living room.
Following the incident, the Fire and Rescue Authority warned against placing laptops on sofas or beds while charging. According to them, placing the computer on such a surface may block its ventilation openings, cause overheating, and lead to contact with flammable fabric. The Fire and Rescue Authority also reminded of the importance of installing smoke detectors in the home, which allow for early detection of a fire and provide warning time that allows for exiting the structure safely.
