Tag Archives: Fire

Did Directed Energy Weapons Cause Viral Cleveland Fire?!

Did Directed Energy Weapons cause the fast-spreading fire in Cleveland that went viral?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Directed Energy Weapons Caused Viral Cleveland Fire!

People are sharing a viral video clip of a fast-spreading fire in Cleveland, which they claim / suggest is evidence of Directed Energy Weapons being tested on Americans!

MAVERICK X : Another very strange phenomenon from Cleveland, USA which happened recently.

It appears like the consequences of testing directed energy weapons, maybe even preparing us for alien invasion.

Everything is staged my friends.

Lord Animus of Diagolon: Directed Energy Weapon being used (was it a test?) in Cleveland, USA.

Jennifer Freitas: Another very strange phenomenon from Cleveland, USA which happened recently.

It appears like the consequences of testing directed energy weapons, maybe even preparing us for alien invasion. It won’t be real but will scare the sheeple.

Show less

Truth : Directed Energy Weapons Did Not Cause Viral Cleveland Fire!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / propagated by conspiracy theorists, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Video Was Recorded In June 2022

First, I should point out that the video above was originally posted by Scotty Kash in TikTok (archive) on 19 June 2022. The fire apparently happened at around 2 AM on 18 June 2022.

The video went viral on TikTok and Twitter in July 2022, and then again on X (formerly known as Twitter) in December 2023.

This fire did not happen “recently” in Cleveland, as claimed by some people, unless “recently” is defined as anything over 1.5 years ago!

Fact #2 : Fire Was Apparently Caused By A Cigarette

According to Cleveland fire investigators, the fire started was apparently “sparked by a cigarette that was carelessly discarded”

There is no evidence, then in 2022 and now in 2023, that the fire was caused by any Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) testing. The last I checked – an errant cigarette is not considered a Directed Energy Weapon…

Fact #3 : Fire Started In A Single Mulch Bed

According to witnesses at the scene, the fire appeared to start in a single mulch bed, but quickly spread to other nearby mulch beds due to strong winds.

Videographer Drew Griffing spotted the fire after getting off work at the nearby Forward Night Club:

I saw some smoke, saw some sparks, originally thought maybe it was car on fire, and then as I got closer, I saw one mulch bed and the wind was blowing all the sparks into the other mulch beds, you know chain reaction and it was reminiscent of a wild fire.

Eventually, at least 20 mulch beds were set on fire by the blaze. Just in case you are wondering – mulch is highly flammable, so it only requires a fire source to set it on fire, and a good wind to spread it to other mulch beds. As Cleveland Fire spokesperson Lt. Mike Norman explained:

You have a smoldering cigarette, and then mulch is a fuel, you know it’s wood chips, we’ve had a couple hot days, I’m sure that mulch got nice and dry, so that ignition source and that fuel, and then the wind, you know that wind driven fire, wind fuels that fire and that fire spread pretty quickly.

Fire officials pointed out that this is why it is so important to make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished before people dispose of them.

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Joe Biden Fell Asleep At Maui Fire Victim Event?!

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Did US President Joe Biden fall asleep during a meeting with victims of the 2023 Maui wildfires?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Joe Biden Fell Asleep While Meeting Maui Fire Victims!

People are sharing a low resolution video, claiming that it shows US President Joe Biden falling asleep during a meeting with victims of the 2023 Maui wildfires!

Sean Hannity : Biden appears to fall asleep during a ceremony in Hawaii honoring the hundreds of Americans killed by the fires

Marc Wallace : Joe Biden just fell asleep in the middle of his meeting with victims of the Maui fires

TONY™️ : WOW!!! Joe Biden appears to be sleeping while listening to survivors speak about their homes burning to the ground 🤯

Two vacations and you still can’t stay awake? You can’t make this up 🚨👇🏼

Concerned Citizen : Joe Biden falling asleep in Maui whilst meeting local survivors of one of the worst Human Tragedies in American History.

Impeach this child sniffing corrupted criminal NOW.

Truth : Joe Biden Did Not Fall Asleep While Meeting Maui Fire Victims!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS about Joe Biden, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Joe Biden Was At Lahaina Community Engagement Event

First, let me start by giving you some context on what’s going on.

In early August 2023, a number of wildfires broke out on the island of Maui, in the US state of Hawaii. That culminated in a massive wildfire that devastated the town of Lahaina on August 8, 2023.

The entire town of Lahaina was destroyed, with the damage estimated at $6 billion. Even worse – at least 114 people were confirmed killed in and around Lahaina, as of August 22.

On August 21, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrived at Kahului Airport to visit the disaster sites. One of the stops was the Lahaina Civic Center, where President Biden met residents and gave a speech.

Fact #2 : Joe Biden Was Not Asleep

The viral video shows President Joe Biden sitting down, and nodding off, during that community engagement event at the Lahaina Civic Center.

The truth is – Joe Biden wasn’t nodding off. He was bowing his head, possibly in prayer. The viral video was edited to show him “nodding off”, and posted in low-resolution, so you can’t see that he actually had his eyes open.

In the higher resolution video posted by C-SPAN, you can see Joe Biden looking at the speaker, and cough, before bowing his head, and then nodding in agreement with the speaker. You can also see that his eyes were open even though his head remained bowed.

Joe Biden then looked up when the speaker spoke about the homes of his son, his daughter, and his parents, burning down. He then clapped with everyone else when the speaker said that “Lahaina is a town not for sale”.

Fact #3 : White House Confirmed It’s Fake News

When the Biden Administration was asked about the viral video, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates replied:

It’s unfortunate they feel the need to lie. Instead, they should join him in supporting the people of Maui.

Fact #4 : This Is Just Fake News About Joe Biden

This is just ultimately just another example of political fake news to smear Joe Biden, and here are other examples:

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Did Tesla Cars Catch Fire + Explode After Accident?!

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Did two Tesla electric cars catch fire, and explode spectacularly, after colliding in an accident?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Video Shows Tesla Cars On Fire + Exploding After Accident!

A video has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, with people claiming that it shows two electric vehicles, or Tesla cars, catching fire and exploding spectacularly, after colliding in an accident!

AlphaFox : This is what happens when one Tesla catches on fire.

BUDA : Tesla car battery exploding #tesla #elonmusk @elonmusk $TSLA

An incredible video, showing what can happen when two EVs collide. Note that both sides of the freeway have been shut down and there are no fire apparatus present because, once a lithium battery ignites, it cannot be easily extinguished and the fumes are toxic.

Truth : Video Does NOT Show Tesla Cars On Fire + Exploding!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms, and here are there reasons why…

Fact #1 : Video Was Recorded In Moscow, Russia

First, let me start by pointing out that the viral video was recorded on the Moscow Automobile Ring Road (MKAD).

Fact #2 : Video Was Recorded In July 2013

Next, you should know that the incident did not happen recently. In fact, it actually occurred on 13/14 July 2013 – more than 10 years ago!

Although the Tesla Roadster was displayed in Moscow as early as June 30, 2010, Tesla never sold any electric cars officially in Russia. Instead, Tesla enthusiasts in Russia imported them in by themselves, through a “Tesla Club”.

Even as late as 2020, there were only about 500 Tesla electric cars in Russia, with 400 of them sold through the Russian “Tesla Club”. Therefore, it is virtually impossible for two Tesla electric cars to be involved in an accident in Russia, in 2013…

Fact #3 : Exploding Vehicle Was A Propane Gas Truck!

The truth is – the incident involved a truck that was carrying propane gas tanks. No electric vehicles were involved.

In the video above, you can see that the propane gas truck driver was speeding, and slammed into the back of a grey van / mini bus that was changing lanes to the right.

The accident caused the 36 propane gas tanks to burst and catch fire. Some of them exploded spectacularly, while others flew around like rockets!

Despite the ferocity of the fire and explosions, no one died in the accident. The truck driver can be seen running away from the exploding gas tanks.

Did Tesla Cars Catch Fire + Explode After Accident?!

Fact #4 : There Were Firefighters

The viral video does not show any firefighters, because it is only one minute long. The original video, which is over 8 minutes long, shows Russian police and firefighters arriving on the scene within minutes.

However, it seemed safer to just let the truck burn completely, as the propane gas tanks were still exploding and flying around. In fact, a Russian police car was almost hit by one of those flying gas tanks, and quickly beat a hasty retreat!

Fact #5 : Lithium Battery Fires Are Hard To Put Out

It is true that the lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles can catch fire, and these lithium fires are notoriously hard to put out. Firefighters generally need to dump a ton of water on the burning electric vehicle for several hours.

That is why it is generally a good idea to simply let the electric vehicle burn itself out, unless the fire is threatening life or other property.

Electric vehicles will burn furiously, but they won’t explode like what was shown in the viral video. Those are, again, pressurised propane tanks exploding.

Fact #6 : Electric Vehicles Are Less Likely To Catch Fire

Electric vehicles can and do catch fire during car accidents, especially when their lithium ion battery packs are damaged or ruptured by the impact.

However, their overall fire risk is lower than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. According to AutoinsuranceEZ, ICE vehicles are 60X more likely to catch fire than an electric vehicle.

The riskiest are hybrid vehicles – they are 130X more likely to catch fire than an electric vehicle! The much higher fire risk in hybrid vehicles is likely due to the fact they have both a lithium-ion battery, and a gas tank filled with combustible fuel.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did African Migrants Just Destroy Historic Alcazar Library?!

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Did African migrants just riot and destroy the historical Alcazar Library in Marseille, France?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : African Migrants Just Destroyed Alcazar Library!

People are sharing a video of the historical Alcazar Library burning, after being allegedly destroyed by African migrants who were rioting in France.

Stew Peters : The Alcazar Library in Marseille is the largest library in France, containing an archive of one million historically significant documents.

African migrants just TORCHED it.

Christian Pilgrim : WATCH: Rioters have burned down the largest library in France.

The Alcazar library in Marseille included an archive of one million historically significant archives.

VVC Watch : The Alcazar Library in Marseille is the largest in France, containing an archive of one million historically significant documents. African migrants just TORCHED it. #vvcwatch

Some also claim that the video shows the National Library in Paris on fire, not the Alcazar library.

Truth : African Migrants Did Not Destroy Alcazar Library!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Twitter, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : People Were Rioting Over Nahel Merzouk

First, I should quickly point out that the June 2023 riots in France had nothing to do with migrants in France, whether they are African or otherwise.

People in France were not rioting over migrant rights, but rather, the death of Nahel Merzouk – a 17 year-old French youth of Moroccan and Algerian descent, who was shot and killed by the police in Nanterre on 27 June 2023.

That morning, two Paris Police Prefecture motorcycle police officers saw Nahel Merzouk driving a Mercedes-Benz A Class AMG with a Polish licence plate at high speed in a bus lane.

They tried to flag it down, but Nahel continued to flee, committing several traffic offences in the process. But he was eventually forced to stop due to traffic congestion.

That was when the two police officers got off their motorcycles and ordered him to turn off the engine. When Nahel started to pull away again, one of the police officers fire a shot at him because he claim Nahel was about to run him over. The car continued for a distance before crashing into street furniture.

However, a 50-second video was later released, showing that neither police officers were in danger of being run over by Nahel. A passenger in Nahel’s vehicle also testified that the police officer hit Merzouk with the butt of his gun several times, and the third buttstroke made Nahel release the brake pedal, causing the car to move forward as it was an automatic car.

Those revelations caused a great public outcry and outrage, that quickly turned into protests and riots in many parts of France.

Fact #2 : Rioters Attempted To Set Alcazar Library On Fire

On the night of Thursday, June 29, 2023, rioters attempted to set the Alcazar library in Marseille on fire. They broke some of its windows, and tried to set its entrance on fire.

However, the rioters did not succeed in entering the Alcazar library, or set it on fire. Its entrance was only lightly torched. It was boarded up the next day.

There is also no evidence that the rioters who tried to set the Alcazar library on fire were migrants, or Africans.

Fact #3 : Viral Video Is Of Manila Central Post Office Fire

The video that went viral on social media does not show the Alcazar Library on fire. Rather, the video showed the Manila Central Post Office (MCPO) which caught fire on Sunday, May 21, 2023.

The fire started in its basement at 11:41 PM that night, but firefighters had trouble controlling it. It was finally controlled at 7:22 AM on May 22, and finally put out at 6:33 AM the next day, on May 23, 2023.

18 persons were wounded in the incident – 16 firefighters, a fire volunteer, and a civilian. 300 million pesos worth of assets, including national identification cards were destroyed or damaged.

Even worse was the loss of the heritage building. The Manila Central Post Office was a 97 year-old building which was a “classic example of Western architecture that existed between two world wars“.

Fact #4 : French National Library Not On Fire Either

Claims that the video shows the French National Library in Paris on fire are also false.

Elodie Vincent, a spokesperson for Bibliothèque nationale de France, confirmed in an email that the French National Library was unharmed during the Nahel protests and riots.

I should also point out that the French National Library is the largest library in France, not the Alcazar Library.

Fact #5 : This Is Just Another Fake Video

This is just another example of fake videos misappropriated to create controversies. Here are some other recent examples you may have seen recently:

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Can Your Phone Explode / Catch Fire If You Fart?!

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Can the hydrogen and methane in your fart catch fire or explode if your phone rings?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Your Phone Can Explode / Catch Fire If You Fart!

People are sharing a video on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that it shows a phone exploding or catching fire after its owner farted!

Be Careful! ⛔ Never fart with your cell phone in your pocket ! Gases are flammable ! 😱🤣

Human fart contains Hydrogen and methane both can combust with a spark ,please be careful when you fart with your phone in your back pocket. Funny but so true😅😅

Presumably, the phone triggered the fire when it rang after the man farted… but is that really possible?

Can your phone EXPLODE or CATCH FIRE if you fart?! 😯🤔

Here are the facts : https://t.co/tMLNzEyE0C #TechARP #Smartphone #Phone #Mobile #Fart #Farting #Science #Facts #FactsMatter #FactCheck #Hoax #Fake #FakeNews #Explosion #Fire #Video #Viral #PowerBank #LithiumIon #Battery pic.twitter.com/NF8INIvuYk

— Dr. Adrian Wong (@DrAdrianWong) May 24, 2023

Truth : Your Phone Won’t Explode / Catch Fire If You Fart!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and shared on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : This Is An Old Video From South Africa

The viral video isn’t new. This video of a CCTV recording was recorded in South Africa in March 2020.

Fact #2 : It Was Not A Phone, But A Power Bank

The video does not show the man’s phone exploding or catching fire. Rather, it was a power bank that caught fire.

Fact #3 : Flatulence Is Combustible

Farts, or flatulence, is combustible, because it contains methane and hydrogen sulphide which are produced by bacteria digestion of our food. However, the power bank did not catch fire because the man farted.

Even if the man farted a great deal of combustible gas, there needs to be a spark for there to be any fire. Power banks don’t generate sparks. Phones, even when they are ringing, do not generate sparks – that is just an urban legend.

So flatulence may be combustible, but neither a phone or a power bank will set it off, because neither produce sparks or an open flame.

Fact #4 : Power Bank Apparently Overheated

At the time the incident happened, 29 year-old Lwando Mashiamahle was waiting for his girlfriend to buy a plane ticket at the OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa.

While sitting down to wait, he realised that the power bank in his pocket felt warm. But he didn’t think anything of it, until it suddenly burst into flames.

It felt quite hot in my pocket but I thought it was normal, like sometimes your phone heats up when you’re using it, but I never thought it could explode,

I was so shocked, I didn’t know what to do, I automatically just lost my mind. I was very, very scared.

Fact #5 : He Was Not Injured By The Fire

Mashiamahle was not injured when his power bank burst into flames, because he was able to quickly take off his trousers, and avoid getting burnt.

Fortunately I have no injuries but my pants were burnt and I had to quickly find the nearest shop to buy a new pair.

He is very fortunate, as lithium battery fires are very strong and hard to put out.

Fact #6 : Phone / Power Bank Batteries Are A Fire Risk

Despite claims our phone or smartphone can spark flames in petrol / gas stations, or even cause a gas stove explosion, there is simply no scientific evidence for those urban legends.

The electrodynamic speakers in your phone vibrate to produce sound waves. They do not generate sparks. Without a source of sparks or an open flame, even a gas leak wouldn’t catch fire and explode.

The US FCC, US NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and the Petroleum Equipment Institute have all confirmed that mobile phones do not pose a fire hazard.

The lithium ion battery in our phone and power bank, however, are a fire hazard. Roughly one in every 10 million lithium-ion batteries will fail and catch fire. That sounds like very low risk, but not when there are BILLIONS of lithium-ion batteries in use around the world!

That is why it is forbidden to pack any device with a lithium-ion battery into luggage that needs to be checked into an aircraft cargo hold. Everyone must carry their phone, computer and power bank using these lithium-based batteries into the cabin, so that if they catch fire, the crew are aware and can quickly put them out.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Pentagon Just Get Hit By A Large Explosion?!

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Was the Pentagon just hit by a large explosion?! Take a look at the viral photo, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Pentagon Was Just Hit By A Large Explosion!

A photo of an explosion at the Pentagon has gone viral on social media, with multiple “blue check” Twitter accounts, an Indian media outlet and Russian state media sharing it!

RT : Reports of an explosion near the Pentagon in Washington DC

Bloomberg Feed : Large Explosion near The Pentagon Complex in Washington D.C. – Initial Report

⚠️BREAKING – Initial Reports of a Large Explosion near The Pentagon Complex in Washington D.C.
A Fire is currently Burning at the Location of the Blast with Fire and Rescue Crews arriving On-Scene.

Initial Reports of a Large Explosion near The #Pentagon Complex in #Washington D.C.
A Fire is currently Burning at the Location of the Blast with Fire and Rescue Crews arriving On-Scene.

Truth : Pentagon Was Not Hit By A Large Explosion!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created using AI technology, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : There Was No Pentagon Explosion

First, let me just confirmed that there was no explosion at the Pentagon yesterday or today. The Pentagon did not come under attack, as many people have claimed.

For one thing – no legitimate media outlet has reported on such an explosion. No, propaganda outlets like Russia Today (RT) do not count.

This incident has shown just how unreliable RT really is – it was the only state media agency to post the fake photo. RT deleted the photo hours later, but did not appear to apologise for the “mistake”.

Furthermore, police and fire officials in Arlington, Virgina, have confirmed that the viral photo is fake, and that there was no incident at the Pentagon. No explosion. No fire. No smoke.

@PFPAOfficial and the ACFD are aware of a social media report circulating online about an explosion near the Pentagon.

There is NO explosion or incident taking place at or near the Pentagon reservation, and there is no immediate danger or hazards to the public.

Fact #2 : That Is Not The Pentagon

Anyone who has seen the facade / side profile of the Pentagon will immediately realise that the photo does not show the famous building.

The fake building looks like like a university than the Pentagon, which has a flat, sloping roof without a triangular Gable roof.

The facade of the Pentagon is also almost flat and uniform, with uniform, same-sized windows throughout.

Fact #3 : The Photo Was AI Generated

The viral photo appears to be created using an AI image generator. If you look closely at the photo, you will see many discrepancies that suggest it was AI-generated:

The facade of the building is distorted, with some windows merging together.
The fence suddenly turns into crowd barriers, both of which have distortions with holes too.
The lamp post appears to be distorted and cut off from its base, literally floating sideways.

Not shown below, but the concrete walkway also gradually fades into grass, which is another sign it was AI-generated.

Fact #4 : Twitter Blue + Gold Accounts Helped Spread Fake Photo!

It is important to point out that while this viral photo tricked many people into thinking it was real, it was the new Twitter Blue and Twitter Gold accounts that helped it go viral.

The photo went viral because multiple Twitter Blue accounts shared the fake photo. Because many people still believe that blue check Twitter accounts are “verified” and therefore trustworthy, they shared it out too.

Elon Musk is responsible for this debacle, by allowing any Tom, Dick and Harry to purchase a blue check to masquerade as a “verified” Twitter account. That was how the fake Bloomberg Feed account was able to trick so many people to share this fake photo.

On top of that, Russian state media – RT (Russia Today) boosted the fake photo by reposting it on its Twitter Gold account, which is a paid and verified account. Even though RT finally deleted the tweet hours later, more than 38,000 people had already viewed the post, and many shared it because they believed RT verified the news.

Fact #5 : Indian News Channel Helped Spread Fake Photo

It also did not help that Republic TV – a right-wing, English language news channel in India, broadcasted a “Live & Breaking” news of the Pentagon explosion using nothing more than that fake photo!

To top it off, they even invited Professor Madhav Nalapat – “an international affairs expert” to opine on the fake explosion!

To be fair – Republic TV relied on RT to verify that news, with a chyron saying, “RT REPORTS EXPLOSION NEAR PENTAGON“. That ought to teach them for relying on Russian state media for facts…

Republic TV claims the Pentagon was just hit by a massive explosion! 😲🤔

Here is my fact check : https://t.co/GndMXdMr4I #TechARP #Pentagon #Explosion #Military #USDOD #UnitedStates #Facts #FactsMatter #FactCheck #Hoax #Fake #FakeNews #AIGenerated #AI #ArtificialIntelligence pic.twitter.com/XaqglBsV3T

— Dr. Adrian Wong (@DrAdrianWong) May 24, 2023

Fact #6 : This Is Just AI-Generated Fake News!

This is yet another example of fake photos / videos / news created by artificial intelligence. Here are some other examples I fact checked recently:

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Can Mobile Phone Spark Stove Fire / Explosion?!

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Can our mobile phone spark a gas stove fire or explosion?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Mobile Phone Can Spark Stove Fire / Explosion!

People are sharing this video on WhatsApp and social media, warning that our mobile phone can spark a gas stove fire or explosion!

This video shows an Indian lady using her mobile phone in her kitchen. She places a pot on the stove, and proceeds to turn on the gas.

You can see the stove light up and suddenly, the Indian lady is on fire and does two pirouettes before falling to the ground.

I have no idea who actually created the video, but it has two Symcon Foundation logos, and the narrator mentions the Symcon Foundation in Mysore, India as well.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mobile-Phone-Stove-Fire-Symcon-Foundation-Video.mp4?_=1

Truth : Mobile Phone Cannot Spark Stove Fire / Explosion!

This is yet another mobile phone causes gas stove fire / explosion hoax, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : It Won’t Happen Without A Gas Leak / Defective Gas Tank

A gas explosion cannot happen without a gas leak, or a defective gas tank.

Even if you are holding a sparkler or a candle with an open flame, turning on the gas stove won’t set you afire, because… LGP gas is heavier than air!

Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) is a mix of butane and propane gas. Butane is just over 2X heavier than air, while propane is a little over 1.5X heavier than air.

As long as the sparks or open flame is higher than the gas source, it won’t set the stove on fire if you just turn on the gas.

For there to be an explosion, there has to be a gas leak as significant amounts of gas has to leak before it becomes combustible.

Fact #2 : Our Mobile Phone Don’t Create Sparks

Even if there is a gas leak, using a mobile phone won’t spark a fire or explosion, as the mobile phone does not create sparks during use or when it rings.

The electrodynamic speakers in your phone vibrate to produce sound waves. They do not generate sparks.

Think about it – how popular would mobile phones be if their speakers emitted sparks into our ears?

Without a source of sparks or an open flame, it is not possible for your mobile phone to spark any fire or explosion.

Fact #3 : Authorities Confirm Mobile Phone Do Not Pose Fire Hazard

The US FCC, US NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and the Petroleum Equipment Institute have all confirmed that mobile phones do not pose a fire hazard.

US FCC : In these stories, a fire was reportedly ignited or an explosion occurred when an individual’s phone rang and was answered. Supposedly, an electrical spark from the phone ignited the fires or caused the explosion. These reports are not supported by any documentation that the fire and/or explosion was caused by the wireless phone – or that the incidents even occurred.

US NFPA : The wireless industry has done studies on the potential for wireless phones to create sparks that could possibly ignite flammable materials. The studies generally conclude that while it may be theoretically possible for a spark from a cell phone battery to ignite gas vapor under very precise conditions, there is no documented incident where the use of a wireless phone was found to cause a fire or explosion…

Fact #4 : Static Is The Real Hidden Danger

Fire incidences blamed on mobile phones can often, if not always, be traced back to static electricity.

Our bodies can get “charged” with static electricity, if we wear rubber-soled shoes or slippers. Or when we walk on a rug. The risk increases when the air is cold and/or dry. The lower the humidity, the higher the voltage of a static discharge.

Sparks are created when an electrostatic discharge occurs – this is what causes the petrol station fires that people blame on mobile phones. Similarly, static electricity in your kitchen can create sparks that may ignite if there is a gas leak in the kitchen.

No Risk, But Bad Idea To Use Mobile Phone In Kitchen!

While your mobile phone will not spark fires, you should still avoid using it whenever you’re in your kitchen, or even at the petrol station.

Using your phone at the petrol station or kitchen is dangerous because it can distract you from dangers in an environment with flammable liquids.

It’s really the same reason why you are not allowed to use a mobile phone while driving. Your mobile phone may not cause your car to explode, but you could get distracted and cause an accident!

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Shocking Reason Why ASUS Z690 Motherboards Are Melting!

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ASUS Z690 Hero owners are FUMING because their motherboards are MELTING, SMOKING and CATCHING ON FIRE!

Take a look at the SHOCKING REASON why these premium motherboards are literally melting down…

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero : Potential Fire Hazard?!

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero owners are complaining on social media, and in the ASUS Support Forum, that their premium motherboards are literally burning up!

In fact, one user, TheMaxXHD, had two of his ASUS Z690 Hero motherboards die in just 3 days, with one actually catching on fire!

Late at night I am merely surfing the web and all of a sudden it hard shuts off again, and this time when I look over there I see a component on the motherboard literally on fire.

Other users reported hearing loud pops, and either smelling or seeing smoke wafting from their ASUS Z690 Hero motherboards, before shutting down.

Even users who were lucky not to experience a fire or melting components, reported that their ASUS Z690 Hero motherboards were unstable, rebooting on and off.

The motherboard’s Q Code display would also show Error Code 53, which refers to a memory error. However, replacing or swapping the memory modules will not solve the problem.

Why ASUS Z690 Hero Motherboards Are Melting / Catching On Fire!

Users who reported problems with their ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboards, have noted that they were melting / smoking / catching on fire in roughly the same area – between the last DIMM slot and the Q Code display.

In that location, you can see two MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors), but they are apparently not the cause.

According to a YouTuber called Buildzoid, the capacitor next to those two MOSFETs are the likely cause of the melting / smoking / catching on fire.

He pointed out that the etched text on the capacitor is upside down, which suggests that they were incorrectly installed in reverse!

In this comparison, the reversed capacitor is seen in the picture on the left, with the positive terminal on the left, instead of to the right, as seen on the picture on the right.

When such a capacitor is installed in reverse polarity, it will not only fail to work, it will actually act as a short circuit.

This quickly creates hydrogen gas (which is flammable!), and eventually destroys the capacity and could even start a fire.

There is no doubt that installing capacitors in reverse polarity is a dangerous mistake.

ASUS Confirms Reversed Capacitor On Z690 Hero Motherboards!

ASUS confirmed Buildzoid’s assessment, stating that they have “preliminarily identified a potential reversed memory capacitor issue in the production process“.

They also confirmed that the reversed capacitor issue affects units manufactured in 2021, with the part number 90MB18E0-MVAAY0 and serial numbers starting with MA, MB, or MC.

They did not, however, reveal how this dangerous mistake happened, or why their quality control (QC) measures failed to pick up the mistake.

To identify whether your ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboard is affected by this reversed memory capacitor mistake, you can check the part and serial numbers in the product packaging label.

ASUS also created a serial number tool, for you to check if your motherboard is affected.

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero : Is There A Recall?

Unfortunately, there is no general recall of the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero.

While ASUS admitted that there is a reversed memory capacitor issue, they did not recall the ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboards.

They only stated that they are going to continue their “thorough inspection” with their suppliers and customers, and “will be working with relevant government agencies on a replacement program“.

It is unknown why ASUS would need to work with government agencies on a replacement program, but for now – there is no recall program.

Neither did ASUS get back to the user whose Z690 Hero motherboard caught on fire after 2 weeks :

I have heard nothing from them. I sent them via reddit dm my second board’s serial number that I had returned to my local microcenter, which was the board that actually caught on fire, so they have a paper trail to follow and maybe retrieve that board from the store, and I explained the issue.

My only hope is they are actually looking into this, because it is a serious concern. However, I have heard nothing, so I don’t know.

One can only hope, but if they just sit there doing nothing, its a pretty big shame, as Asus support is one of the supposed big reasons why people buy Asus

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero : What Should You Do?

It is unfortunate that ASUS did not recall all affected ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboards. The memory capacitor installed in reverse polarity poses a real danger, and is a fire hazard.

Therefore, it would be advisable to avoid buying the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero until this issue is resolved satisfactorily.

If you are using a Z690 Hero motherboard that is affected by this issue, you should IMMEDIATELY STOP USING IT, and reach out to ASUS.

Until ASUS agrees to fix the affected motherboards, the ROG Maximus Z690 Hero should only be used by “Those Who Dare” to risk damage, or worse, from the reversed memory capacitor…

If possible, return the motherboard for a full refund, or exchange it for alternative motherboards like the GIGABYTE AORUS Z690 Master (US | UK | AU | SG | MY), like TheMaxXHD whose Z690 Hero caught fire :

I have since swapped out the board for a Gigabyte Aorus Z690 Master and has been going just fine for almost a full week. Nothing else was changed other than the motherboard, indicating to me, this is a motherboard issue.

All in all, it appears like some boards have components in flames, some merely just become bricked with code 53. In any case, I would advise avoiding until and if Asus responds.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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500 Radeon RX 5700 Cards Destroyed In Fire!

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500 brand new AMD Radeon RX 5700 graphics cards meant for crypto-currency mining just burned up in a fire!

500 Radeon RX 5700 Cards Destroyed In Fire!

On 27 January 2021, Guntis Vitolins shared pictures of 500 Radeon RX 5700 graphics cards that were just destroyed in a fire.

This is how looks 500x RX 5700 burned $eth

RX 5700 Fire Started In Welding Accident!

But here is where it takes a strange twist. It was not an actual “mining accident”, as we might expect.

A welding accident apparently started the fire at this warehouse, where he was building his mining rigs.

Some 500 of his Radeon RX 5700 graphics cards – all brand new, in boxes – were destroyed in the fire, and firefighting operation.

Fortunately for him, his mining rigs survived, and just needed to dry out from the water.

Another crypto-miner estimated that the 500 destroyed Radeon RX 5700 cards would cost about US$300,000.

But you would be hard-pressed to find 500 of these cards on Amazon!

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