Cellphone in pocket blamed for fire that badly burns Calif. man
A California man is in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over 50% of his body because a cellphone in his pocket may have touched off a fire.
Luis Picaso, 59, of Vallejo was wearing a shirt and pants made of nylon and polyester, and sitting in a plastic lawn chair when the phone ignited, authorities believe.
Bill Tweedy, spokesman for the local fire department, told the Vallejo Times Herald that the phone's power button may have been "depressed for a long time while in his pocket," possibly causing a short circuit. Then Picaso's clothes and the chair fueled the flames.
"The only thing he had on that was cotton was his underwear," Tweedy told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Everywhere the nylon was, that's where he got burns."
Update at 7:25 p.m. ET: Tip o' the blog cap to commenter/blogger/journalist Paul McNamara for following up on the story. He called the fire investigator to ask a few nagging questions about how it happened. His answer: intoxication, not the phone, was to blame for the fire. Read his account over at Network World.
Update at 8:52 p.m. ET: Many readers want to know the cellphone brand and model. As the articles state, the fire department so far has balked at making that information public. Spokesman Tweedy said he "did not think the fire was connected to a specific company's products."
Update at 10 a.m. ET, Jan. 18:
BIG CHANGE IN THE STORY. Investigators no longer think the cellphone is to blame.
I find much of this speculation interesting. Being in the fire service for 35 years and doing investigations for 19 provides a little insight.
As I read the articles I look past the headline and look at clues in the text. My experience with intoxicated occupants of "residential hotel(s)" makes me wonder. The percent of smokers in the general population is around 20%. Believe me, it is much higher among the type of tenant described. One rule of thumb to use is that when there are numerous possibilities the simplest is usually the right one. I don't know for certain that the occupant smoked, but, if he did that is the simplest answer.
The most important piece of information is that a sprinkler system controlled the fire. It is not uncommon to pull many bodies out of this type of non-sprinklered building. Instead of headlines claiming that a cell phone started a fire they should say "30 people didn't die because of a sprinkler system". Remarkably even the victim in immediate contact with the fire didn't die.
and by the way, I dnt use my phone while driving. I hardly use it at all, whihc is why its the simplist cheapest package. When I do use it, its before I even pull out of where Im at, or when I get to where Im going. Unlike women in the society where you live, I only even have it for emergency use. Not to keep my social life in check. Dont talk about people as if you know them when you dont know jack about them. Just because you saw one person do this, does not mean EVERYONE does it. maybe you should pay more attention to YOUR driving rather than what other people are doing with thiers.
Robert,
that was uncalled for. You dont even know her. Shes right, men like you are the ones women avoid.
Bizarre turnaround: Nokia is phone manufacturer involved here ... and its engineers have gotten the flip-flopping fire inspector to change his previously adament assessment. Now he says the phone was not the ignition point. Meanwhile, the victim has a lawyer who may hold a press conference as early as today.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/10531
hee hee...I meant use the PHONES more than then thier wives use the phones.....not that the husbands spend more time with thier phones than thier wives..hee hee hee....bad sentence structure!!!
keith, that was a sexist remark. You mad eit sound as if you know for a fact that only women and teenagers use cell phones. Obviously not so since this GUY had one. Not all women are the ones on the cell phone, in fact, my dad is on his all the time, and my mom doesnt even have one, I have one, its the MOST simple phone they make and yet hardly use it and my husband uses his like its some new electronic toy he has to mess with all the time to show off how cool he is having all the gadgets and gizmos on it. Like how guys get new tools and they think they have to go fix things with it? thats how he is with his phone. All his friends have phones too and they tend to use them more than thier wives, so its not just a 'woman' thing. Please do not sexistly classify things as 'so', just because you think it to be that way.
Still no word on what phone we're talking about (and I'm writing about for Network World), so I am conducting an experiment in "community journalism" by asking readers to contact the maker of their own phone and asking: "Was my model involved." I'd greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who takes the time to do this. Thanks.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/10505
Thanks Mr. Mutt:
Welcome to the world of the tech-nots. It is a far easier world to live in the tech-not universe. Does anyone else care to join I and Mr. Mutt?
It would have been NICE if USA Today had posted ALL the facts. We instantly jump on the fact that the guy gets burned up over 50% of his body because of his cell phone, but then you read later that he got the burns because he couldn't react because of his intoxicated state.
Great job of NOT explaining all the facts, editors!
All you are doing is fueling the interest of some legal outfit to try and get as much money as they can from a frivolous lawsuit. Great job, guys.
Mr. Holmes:
I too am a tech-not. Cable connection is required where I live. If not, only two channels, some of the time. I've even stopped wearing a wrist watch. There is no need to check what time it is endlessly. I refuse cell phones, even as gifts. I don't wish to be called if I am not at home. My son has to program and operate any other device. I told him, I REFUSE to learn.
No hand held calculators. I can still do math faster than someone who needs to use a calculator.
I do bless the Internet. Up until now, the art of the written word has all but disappeared. I don't use the standard abbreviations invented for the chat rooms either.
I am an old fashioned modern type of guy.
PS The only fancy buttons that you would find in my car, probably fell off my suit getting in and out of the car.
Interesting.
This is a tragic story and I hope the guy is ok. If no other circumstances contributed to the fire, the man should be compensated substantially. I normally get burned by my cell phone bill. There is no place in the fashion world for polyester--I donated my Sansabelt slacks years ago.
His clothes and chair fueled the flames??? Did this guy spontaneously burst into flames or what?? How can you get burned over 50% of your body from a phone in your pocket?? Sounds like a get rich quick scheme to me...
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
scary
Another good reason not to carry one of those stupid things. I am surprised that half the women and teenagers in this country have not burned to death.
It doesn't say what type of phone it was that burned him. Maybe there will be a recall of the phone after this.
Don't have a cell phone and don't want one. I feel sorry for the poor guy.
Whow
whoa!!!!!! - ouch - mine is always in my pocket - or used to always be in my pocket - poor guy
This is the most crazy thing I have heard. What's the chance of this happening again?
would there be a lawsuit for this kind of thing?
I'm sorry for this man, he seems like a good guy and it's unfortunate. for anyone reading this, never go to Vallejo, CA; it is a horrible town with too much crime and drugs.
The same fire investigator told me that he believes the phone was not the primary cause of the fire, but rather the victim's intoxicated state. It will be interesting to hear expert opinion on that theory.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/10493
Good Heavens! I hope Mr. Picaso recovers soon. This is a terrible, painful thing to happen.
Sounds more like spontaneous combustion to me
Well, don't do that.
Please this one hits too close to home. Could have been anyone. It's a cautionary tale for everyone to learn from. The usual postings just would not fit on this one.
Its about time that these phone companies start testing there product so that this type problem does not happen again. I hope that this gentleman gets well soon and sues the company that made the phone as well as the carrier for selling him the phone.
And now for the rest of the story..........?
What brand and model phone was it? hope I don't have the same one. Recalls? (Mental note,"when I get old, buy only cotton clothes.")
Now it is not only unsafe to drive while using a cell phone, it is dangerous to sit with one.
Would a mention of the brand and model of phoe be too much to ask?
How could this happen? Was he drunk or asleep?
Looks like battery tech needs to be safer. we have a whole lot of devices that are a potential fire hazard.
Motorola RAZR,
Blackberry, 7130
ETC
ETC
ETC
LG Something Something...
I hope this guys gets better soon. What a tragedy! If a cellular phone can emit enough energy in a moment in time to spark a fire, I wonder what cellular phones are doing to other important and valuable tissues and organs around the waist level, with their red or green standy light flashing. Cellular phones emit small levels of radiation that, over time, can cause other physiological issues.
Once upon a time, there was no need to have these little wireless critters around us. Some say it is a necessity, but I say otherwise. Life is simpler without any tech gadget around. I am old school and i am extremely proud of it. There is nothing wrong in living a traditional lifestyle.
I even see very hungry and haggard looking individuals, who should be taking better care of themselves, hanging those alien looking things on their ear, which they call red-tooth connection to their cellular phone.
I am beginning to look odd in our society because my car has zero electronics ( I stiillmanually wind up my windshield), other than the outdated and obsolete OBD I computers, and that I have no cell phones, no cable (I use Rabbit ears), no digital cameras, no video games, no home security alarm, and I still use dial-up to get to the internet when I have to.
I just recently installed caller id for the first time on my home phone a few months ago, and I am seriously considering removng it because, I just like to answer the phone whether it is God calling, or the devil howling. I owe no one other than my mortgage company, and I have very friends, so, why do I need another electronic gizmo to check who is calling me, as if I am afraid of someone or my shadow. By the way, if you call me at home and I am on the internet, if the message is that important, then call back. If not, hold your peace.
The savings accrued from not having many of these crazy devices, is huge. I get to eat wherever I want and travel as I please, all paid for in cash. Cash is king. If I can't pay for it in cash, then, i generally forgo it.
With all this illusory electronic devices, people are complaining about how difficult life is when in fact, they have decidedly refused to give up those expensive and sometimes unnecessary devices that suck up their monthly income, from one month to the other. Be honest with yourself and stop complaining about how difficult life is, when in fact, you have sentenced yourself to a life of misery and poverty.
Cash keeps you grounded in the reality of the day, week, month, and year. On top of that, these devices are making people to really feel physically isolated more than ever before. Instead of travelling to visit those you talk to over the phone, we have all decided to continue living our miserable lives hoping that talking it out over the cell phone will compensate. Listen, cell phones will never replace face-to-face meetings.
Maybe one day, it will be shown that cellular phones may lead to some level of impotence and infertility since they generate small amounts of radiations when active or partially active.
What's the phone model!!!
Maybe he just hung up from a heated argument.
That sucks! Hope he gets well soon.