California fire not sparked by defective cellphone battery

Just two days ago California fire department authorities pinned the blame of damaging hotel fire on a malfunctioning cellphone battery, but after further inspection, it seems that the mobile's battery isn't the culprit after all. Engineers from 2125i could not have sparked the blaze that resulted in $75,000 worth of property damage and severe burns to Luis. Upon testing the phone, they discovered that "the electronic circuitry in the phone was undamaged and that the battery was still functioning," with a Vallejo Fire Department investigator adding that the battery performed flawlessly after surviving the fire, which eliminated it from being a suspect. Unfortunately, it looks as if the real case of the blaze may "have been destroyed in the fire," but thankfully, Mr. Picaso is in "critical but stable condition" in a Sacramento hospital.

[Thanks, DeShaun]

[Felix Sargent @ Jan 18th 2007 10:26PM]

Thank god! The pictured battery is exactly what I have!

Eek!

[Matthew @ Jan 18th 2007 10:36PM]

Spontaneous Combustion!?!? It happened to Spinal Taps Drummer!!!

[macstibs @ Jan 18th 2007 10:50PM]

the whole story has insurance/lawsuit scam gone awry written all over it.

[Zach Fichtler @ Jan 18th 2007 11:06PM]

I'll bet the battery *did* cause the fire... but it was just so durable that it worked afterwards... hmm...

[Chris @ Jan 18th 2007 11:10PM]

you wish.... batteries that cause fire do so because they explode, literaly.

[Zach Fichtler @ Jan 18th 2007 11:22PM]

Right... I wasn't serious, I just failed to put some wort of "o.0" or [sarcasm] in there... :-)

[WedgeTalon @ Jan 18th 2007 11:16PM]

"Engineers from 2125i"?

;)

[columbeamea @ Jan 19th 2007 12:36AM]

I recognised the sarcasm though, eh? It's pretty obvious. Besides, everyone knows the evil batteries are trying to *get* us. They are just another tool of the infamously inhumane *them*.

*sarcasm*

;P

[1984 @ Jan 19th 2007 3:49AM]

I, for one, welcome our fire manifesting cellphone overlords.

;)

[applesucksLeo @ Jan 19th 2007 4:33AM]

Sounds suspicious , like some type of Richard Pryor incident and he used the battery as a cover-up.

[Adam Jaylin @ Jan 19th 2007 8:19AM]

You can buy any mobile phone from http://www.ukonlinemarket.co.uk/mobile/index.asp you are looking for. I purchased my nokia battery from here. Its a great portal and also probiding cashback.

[Tim UF @ Jan 19th 2007 9:59AM]

My money is on the guy dozing off in a chair with a lit cigarette in his mouth.