Switching off my laptop
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381752)
Rockingham, Australia
October 5, 2024 6:18am CST
The photo has nothing to do with the discussion.
A small group of ladies get together each Thursday and we play Chinese rummy, a card game. Our good friend is one of the players and last night she told us that her niece in Victoria, Australia, had lost their house to fire.
No-one was home at the time so she, her husband and four young sons have been left with only the clothes they stood in. Luckily they have insurance and my friend’s sister lives near the daughter so they have somewhere to stay for the moment.
They think the fire was started by a laptop. I’ve now decided to switch off the power to my laptop each evening. I should have been doing it anyway but I got lazy and stopped doing it. Do you switch off the power to whatever device you use?
18 people like this
18 responses
@allknowing (153544)
• India
5 Oct 24
That is terrible. Hope they soon get their insurance and can buy a new home.
I have never kept my pc on. I even switch off the main connection to the pc.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
6 Oct 24
@JudyEv I do it more because of thunder and lightning disaster - God forbid
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
6 Oct 24
No, I guess it would be a good thing to do though.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381752)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Oct 24
I've heard of computers starting fires before. It's the last thing I want here.
@JudyEv (381752)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jan 25
It seems quite a lot of house fires start from electrical appliances.
@somewitch (1470)
•
8 Oct 24
Sorry to hear about the fire, that's scary. 
I don't switch off my phone but laptop and desktop, I always do. I never thought a laptop could cause a fire, I'm just annoyed by the noise of the cooling fans.
I don't switch off my phone but laptop and desktop, I always do. I never thought a laptop could cause a fire, I'm just annoyed by the noise of the cooling fans.1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
5 Oct 24
No, I do not have a laptop at this time. I unplug slow cookers and other devices, though.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381752)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Oct 24
'They', whoever 'they' are, seem to think it's a good idea to switch things off if you're able for a while.
@rebelann (117196)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Oct 24
It's so heartbreaking to lose everything in a fire, all the photos and other treasures like that can never be replaced, thankfully no one was injured.
I read a few articles about things like that happening so I decided I didn't need a laptop.
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
6 Oct 24
Oh yes I always do..I never leave any plugged in at all..
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Oct 24
That sounds like a lot of fun, Sorry for her niece, I am glad they have somewhere to stay and they are all alive and well, My PC and my laptop stay on, I never knew something like this could happen,
@xFiacre (14782)
• Ireland
5 Oct 24
@judyev I’m quite fastidious about such things. Everything except the freezer gets switched off when I go on holiday and it irritates my wife a bit when she switches on the kettle to make tea and goes back 5 minutes later and the water is still cold.
BTW, a picture of trees is always appropriate and welcome.
1 person likes this
@anya12adwi (10292)
• India
5 Oct 24
Laptop fired?? I switch off my laptop when I don't use it! Did she leave the laptop on charge??
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
6 Oct 24
I switch off my laptop every evening, but not the smartphone.
@RevivedWarrior (3853)
• India
5 Oct 24
Thats very sad to hear! Well, any electronic and electric device comes with that inherent risk. I do switch off my devices and do not connect to power, while I am not there. I also disconnect while there is lightening as well as when I go to bed. We never know the issues and it is better to be same with devices. I do the same with gas at house as well. I would say it is a good practice to switch off your computer eveyrday. It improves performance and lifespan fo the computer. And it would definitely help the batteries as well. It atleast would earn an year on your machine.
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
5 Oct 24
I am so sorry for the family that lost all of what they had, thankfully they have each other and their lives and as you said, the insurance.
I never considered powering down my personal laptop, although I do power down my work laptop.
I think that I may join you in the change to power down to save from a potential fire.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Oct 24
I never switch off power on my desktop computer, but I always power off my laptop when I'm done using it.
I did shut down all my electronic devices when hurricane Helene hit us, so that when the power started flickering on and off it wouldn't cause surges that would damage the electronics.
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
5 Oct 24
Yes, I always do. I am so sorry to hear about the woman's niece.
