Most people assume that electronics catch fire because of an external flame or a dramatic short circuit. In reality, quite a few fires start from something much less obvious: a small connection or component inside the device getting hot enough to ignite nearby plastic.
This kind of risk exists in many everyday products — phone chargers, power adapters, sockets, switches, power strips, and household appliances.
When heat builds up inside a device
Over time, electrical connections can loosen, oxidize, or carry higher current than intended. When this happens, they can generate significant heat. If the surrounding plastic parts cannot withstand that heat, they may start to deform, melt, and eventually ignite.
The concerning part is that this process often happens gradually and quietly, without any visible external flame or major electrical failure at the beginning.
