If you like to charge your phone at night, this firefighter has a vital caution for you. This is a more dangerous hobby than most of us understand, and anyone who engages in it should see this TikTok video. The video was shared with us by the Kent Fire and Rescue Service in England. We had no clue this could be so risky, therefore we appreciate any ideas and pointers.

“This is a highly debated topic on our TikTok, but if you ARE able to do so, it’s much safer to charge any electrical items when you’re there and awake,” the opening sequence reads. That was not all they had to say about this critical issue, however  “We get a lot of questions here at Kent Fire & Rescue about why you shouldn’t charge phones overnight,” the firefighter told viewers at home.

“Here are the reasons why. Number one: You can’t smell anything when you’re sleeping, so if it starts to burn, the fire won’t wake you up,” he explains. “Number two: it only takes three breaths of smoke to knock you unconscious.” He blames the problems on “cheap and faulty” phone chargers, despite the fact that “genuine” chargers can create similar problems. No matter what type of charger you’re using, they’ve all been known to ignite fires, so keep that in mind before you think you’re an exception.

“If you’re able to, we advise you to charge your phone when you’re there and awake,” she says. “From a fire service point of view, it’s much safer.” Of course, someone had to make a nasty remark about how they will be charging their phone while asleep anyhow. “We would encourage you not to, but we cannot enforce anything. All we can do is provide recommendations based on actual situations. The fire expert responded, “We always hope you won’t need us.”