A 14-year-old girl suffered second-degree burns last week after the iPhone in her back pocket caught on fire.
The Kennebunk, Maine middle school student had received the device as a gift two months before, Apple Insider reported via the Portland Press Herald. She was in her first class of the day when the green iPhone 5 in her pocket began to smoke.
"Immediately, smoke starts billowing from around the student," Principal Jeff Rodman told the Portland Press Herald. "She knew right away something was wrong and, in a panic, knew her pants were on fire caused by the cellphone."
He commended the girl on her presence of mind to use the "stop, drop and roll" technique right away to reduce the flames.
"The phone fell out of her pocket ... and it was still smoldering. Her pants were still on fire," Rodman said.
Other girls in the class helped the student into a corner, while boys left the classroom so the 14-year-old could take off her burning pants. A teacher standing right outside the classroom came in, and the girl was wrapped in a blanket until medical help could arrive.
The student was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for second-degree burns and released after about 45 minutes, her mother told the Portland Press Herald. The iPhone was charred and can no longer be used.
The girl, who had been preparing for her first-period French class and is an honors student, wanted to return to school but was encouraged to go home by medical workers and school officials.
Apple has not yet released an official statement on the incident. Fire officials have hypothesized that the iPhone's battery "shorted out" when the girl sat down, according to USA TODAY.
"People should obviously use caution when placing their phones in their back pockets so as not to crush them and cause an electrical short," a Kennebunk official told reporters.
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