Portable Charger Explosion in Los Angeles

A sports reporter in Los Angeles had a terrifying morning earlier this month when her portable charger unexpectedly exploded while she was asleep. The incident resulted in chemical burns on her arm and damaged her bed.

“Here’s a public service announcement—if you’re using portable chargers, it’s time to stop,” Ashley Nebel said in a video she shared on social media. “My bed literally exploded. Everything caught fire. The mattress was burned, and it had holes in it. I had nowhere to sleep.” She also noted that an emergency fire blanket, a housewarming gift from her dad, likely saved her life, as reported by KCAL-TV.

“Seriously, don’t use portable chargers,” she emphasized. “There’s smoke everywhere. We have to clean the entire apartment to get rid of the toxic fumes. It’s not safe to be in there. I’m just really grateful to be alive.”

After getting back from the hospital, she reflected on another frightening aspect of the explosion. “My cell phone was charging at the time. The charger exploded, and I couldn’t even call 911 because it overheated,” she explained. She was awakened by the blast around 5 a.m. and had to leap from her balcony, calling for help from neighbors who quickly assisted.

“The neighbors were incredible,” Nebel said, adding that emergency responders arrived within three minutes.

“In a situation like that, it’s all about instinct—fight or flight,” she mentioned. “You really don’t know what to do.” She went on to suggest that perhaps more stringent regulations on portable chargers should be considered, especially on airplanes. “Can you imagine if something like this happened while in the air? Everyone could be at risk,” she pondered. “It’s a tiny charger, but it could cause a massive problem. Honestly, I never thought it would happen to me.”

Nebel also shared that she’s relied on portable chargers for years. “I never expected anything like this, and I’m so thankful it wasn’t worse,” she said. “Seriously, just throw away your portable chargers.”