Firefighter's iPhone 4 "Spontaneously Caught Fire" While Charging - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Firefighter's iPhone 4 "Spontaneously Caught Fire" While Charging

by

A firefighter in the Pennsylvanian town of East Brandywine experienced a close call with his iPhone 4 earlier this month, according to a post on the East Brandywine Fire Company's website.

toastyiphonesm

While charging the phone using the Apple provided computer connection, the phone spontaneously caught fire.

After the phone fell to the floor igniting the carpet, the phone was thrown out a nearby window.

Despite the phone being relatively small it produced a large volume of smoke and a noxious smell.

The department notes that the phone has been sent to Apple headquarters in California so the company's engineers can investigate the exact cause of the fire.

This isn't the first time an iPhone has caught fire, but the incidents appear to be unrelated. Earlier this year, Apple initiated a worldwide replacement program for the first-generation iPod Nano, which, in rare cases, could overheat and pose a safety risk to users.

Top Rated Comments

Quazimojo Avatar
189 months ago
Maybe Apple really does have a kill switch built into the phones..

And it really means KILL the phone :eek:
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
powers74 Avatar
189 months ago
"I threw it on the GROOOUND!!!"
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
189 months ago
Does it make me a blind fanboy or just naive to think that this happens to electronics all the time but this case gets reported because it is Apple?

I don't know if it is right to assume that this is being reported just "because it is Apple." I would assume that a website dedicated to delivering Apple news might end up posting something about an Apple device doing this.

And, like the person above me posted, there are other incidents of phone malfunctions which have received press.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
189 months ago
Does it make me a blind fanboy or just naive to think that this happens to electronics all the time but this case gets reported because it is Apple?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
189 months ago
Despite the phone being relatively small it produced a large volume of smoke and a noxious smell.
Was that the "neurotoxin"? (Portal reference)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
189 months ago
This is a comforting thing to know when charging my phone overnight.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

HomePod mini and Apple TV Sage

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored

Sunday May 31, 2026 8:47 am PDT by
New models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to go," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Both devices have been ready "for months," but Apple is holding off on launching them until the more personalized version of Siri is available, he said. "I am told the hardware for the next Apple TV...
iphone 17 pro black feature

iPhone 18 Pro's Camera Upgrade Will Cost Apple 50% More

Friday May 29, 2026 3:44 am PDT by
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max's all-new variable aperture lens will cost Apple 50% more than the camera unit used in current models, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Variable aperture has been one of the most persistent iPhone camera rumors of the past few years. Kuo first flagged the feature in late 2024, and it has since been corroborated by multiple reports and...
iphone 18 pro color dummies

First Look at iPhone 18 Pro Color Options Revealed by Dummy Models

Friday May 29, 2026 4:50 am PDT by
Leaker Sonny Dickson today shared images of iPhone 18 Pro dummy models in the device's four rumored colors, offering the first real-world look at what to expect from the lineup visually. Corroborating previous rumors, the dummies show the iPhone 18 Pro Max in Light Blue, Black, Silver, and Dark Cherry. Dickson said "Cherry will probably be the next hit, orange did very well." Cosmic Orange...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors