News of frequent fires caused by unplugged chargers

I. Recent typical cases: Tragedies repeatedly unfold

On October 24, 2025, a resident in Chengdu, Sichuan, left a charger plugged in, causing the charging cable to spontaneously ignite. The fire spread to the ceiling within two minutes, completely destroying the items in the living room and resulting in direct economic losses exceeding 100,000 yuan. Similar incidents have occurred frequently in various places: in Guiyang, Guizhou, an electrical fault caused by a resident leaving a charger plugged in triggered a fire that ignited bed sheets and bedding in a self-built house; in Zunyi, a family not only had their own house burned down due to the same reason, but also had to compensate the downstairs residents for their losses. What is even more heartbreaking is that in the "4.29" major fire accident in Zunyi, Guizhou, in April 2025, three people tragically lost their lives in a fire caused by a charger malfunction.

II. Analysis of the causes of the fire: Intertwined technical and human factors

Even when not connected to a phone, the internal transformer of a charger with no-load heating and component aging continues to operate, generating heat at 40-50℃. Long-term no-load operation accelerates the aging of the insulation layer. Experiments show that 78% of chargers used for more than 2 years exhibit insulation aging, and 15% show minor cracks. In a case study in Beijing, a charger that had not been unplugged for three years accumulated dust up to 2.3 millimeters inside, which combined with humid air to form a conductive bridge, ultimately causing a short circuit.

Inferior products and chargers with design flaws, non-original or "counterfeit" chargers generally lack safety mechanisms such as overcharge protection and overheat protection. Simulated experiments conducted by the Shenzhen Quality Inspection Institute showed that when the ambient temperature exceeds 30℃, the surface temperature of a charger that has been powered on for a long time can reach 78℃, which is sufficient to ignite surrounding combustible materials. In 2025, a spot check conducted by the Nanjing Market Supervision Bureau found that electric bicycle chargers still had non-conformity issues such as overtemperature protection and overcharge cut-off.

Using habits and environmental risks: Chargers are often placed near flammable items such as beds and sofas, and most fires occur during the deep sleep phase of the human body, between 2-4 a.m. In a case in Zunyi, Guizhou, a charger that was not plugged in tightly resulted in a loose connection, causing the local temperature to soar above 200°C, far exceeding the ignition point of cotton cloth. In addition, some users mix chargers from different devices, further increasing the risk of short circuits.

III. Data Warning: The "Top Killer" of Electrical Fires

According to data from the National Fire and Rescue Administration, fires caused by electrical malfunctions accounted for 25.4% of the total in the first half of 2025, firmly ranking as the leading cause of fires. Among these, fires caused by short circuits due to chargers left plugged in for extended periods accounted for as much as 37%, resulting in over 23,000 fires annually. What's more noteworthy is that the economic losses from such fires are generally high. Cases in Chengdu, Zunyi, and other places show that the losses from a single accident typically range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan.

The fire caused by an unplugged charger may seem accidental, but it is actually the result of a combination of technical defects, usage habits, and regulatory loopholes. From the subtle habit of "unplugging when leaving", to the technological innovation of "intelligent power-off", and then to the implementation of the policy of "full-chain supervision", only through multi-party collaboration can we truly curb the occurrence of such tragedies. Safety is no small matter, and every unplugged charger could be a lurking "ticking bomb".

IV. Scientific prevention: reducing risks from the source

Purchase and usage guidelines

Identify 3C certification: prefer original or well-known brand chargers

Unplug immediately after use: Develop the habit of unplugging the charger immediately after charging, especially at night or before going out.

Keep away from flammable materials: Place the charger in a hard, open area, avoiding covering it or keeping it near bedsheets, curtains, etc.

Routine maintenance and emergency response

Regular inspection: Observe the charger for any cracks, overheating, or unusual odor, and immediately stop using it if any issues are found.

Correct fire extinguishment: In case of a fire, first cut off the main power supply, use a dry powder fire extinguisher or heavy clothing to cover the fire. It is strictly prohibited to use water to extinguish the fire.

Technological upgrading and policy support

Promote smart devices: Choose chargers or outlets with automatic power-off features to reduce the impact of human negligence.

Strengthen regulatory enforcement: strictly implement the mandatory certification system for chargers and intensify the crackdown on inferior products

All market size data in this report are sourced from Internet plus statistics!