SOUTHINGTON, CT — A classroom laptop caught fire and was hurled from a window at Southington High School on Wednesday, forcing a building-wide evacuation and prompting an inquiry into a suspected social media trend involving Chromebook arson.
According to local fire crews, they arrived to find smoke issuing from a second-floor room following reports of a fire on school grounds. No injuries were reported at the scene.
The school district confirmed a laptop ignited and was thrown out the window. Officials are now investigating whether the blaze is connected to “a recent social media trend where people are intentionally causing fires with Chromebooks.”
The fire did not spread beyond the device, and students were allowed to return after the area was cleared.
The origin of the combustion remains under investigation. No individuals have been identified or named in connection with the incident.
