Another Smart Phone Up in Flames in Pocket Explosion

(Tom McCarthy, Townsquare Media)[/caption]A smart phone on fire makes me think twice about carrying a smart phone in my pockets.

I read this story on Yahoo about a teenager who suffered first and second degree burns after her iPhone that was in her pocket caught fire. Apparently the eighth-grader was sitting in class when she heard a pop and then there was smoke coming from her pocket. She was taken to the hospital, treated, and released.

While it is not a common occurrence, this is certainly not the first time this sort of thing has happened. Usually it's due to lithium ion batteries overheating.

Now, I don't have an iPhone, just a plain ole' Android. I have no idea what kind of battery it has - and I don't want to know. I have noticed how warm it is when it's being used...or when it's busy searching for a signal. I feel this warm sensation in my pocket, which isn't necessarily a bad thing this time of year in western Colorado.

My greater concern comes when I'm actually on the phone, and I feel that warm sensation on the side of my face. It's one thing to burn a hole in my jeans, and quite another to burn a hole in my face.

Well, I'm honestly, I'm not too concerned about it. But, it is interesting to know that these sorts of things can and do happen. It kind of gives new meaning to the phrase 'burning up the internet.'