ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office issued a statewide warning Thursday after a hazardous social media trend dubbed the “Chromebook Challenge” caused multiple fires and forced school evacuations across the state.
The trend involves students inserting electrically conductive objects — including pencils and metal tools — into the charging ports of both school-issued and personal electronic devices. According to authorities, the behavior leads to electrical shorts that produce smoke, sparks, and in some instances, fires stemming from battery thermal runaway.
As of Monday, the fire marshal’s office had documented several incidents tied to the trend in Maryland schools. While no injuries have been reported, several cases prompted evacuations and required emergency response due to smoke conditions or small-scale fires caused by damaged batteries.
“We want to emphasize the importance of educating students about the dangers associated with these acts,” Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray said. The office is working with school systems to address safety concerns and prevent further incidents.
Officials are urging parents to speak with their children about the dangers of tampering with electronics and encourage schools to reinforce digital device safety policies.
Key points
- Maryland authorities report a rise in fires linked to a social media trend called the “Chromebook Challenge”
- Students inserting metal objects into charging ports are causing short circuits and battery ignition
- The State Fire Marshal is calling for increased awareness and safety education in schools
Schools take action to limit device misuse
In response, several Maryland school districts have begun issuing advisories to parents, cautioning them about the trend and asking them to monitor student device use at home. Some districts are also conducting in-school assemblies and digital safety briefings.
Educational technology departments across the state have flagged the issue as an urgent cybersecurity and physical safety threat. Some schools have started implementing restrictions on unsupervised device use or adding protective cases that shield charging ports when not in use.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is also working with device manufacturers and education administrators to explore long-term hardware solutions that would make tampering more difficult. These efforts are ongoing as the investigation into individual incidents continues.
Emergency responders in at least three counties have confirmed responding to smoke reports or minor fires caused by shorted-out devices. No criminal charges have been filed, but disciplinary actions have been taken by school officials.
The fire marshal’s office continues to monitor the situation and is asking anyone with information related to similar incidents to report them.
A viral trend involving student tampering with school electronics has sparked real-world consequences across Maryland classrooms.
