PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Two teenagers accused of starting a fire inside Plymouth North High School will face attempted arson charges and malicious destruction of property charges after fire officials say they caused some damage attempting a social media challenge.
Investigators found two outlets scorched after the students used a penny and a cell phone charger to short circuit an electrical outlet.
Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said a video that’s gained attention on the TikTok app has encouraged teens to partially insert the plug part of a phone charger into a wall outlet and then slide a penny down the wall to make contact with the two exposed prongs.
“The result is sparks, electrical system damage, and in some cases fire,” the fire marshal said in a memo to fire officials around the state. He added, “This video is a concern and similar to past viral videos that encourage unsafe behavior. You might reach out to local news outlets, school officials, and parent organizations. Alert them to this challenge, advise them to, not only look for signs of fire play like scorched outlets but to have conversations about fire and electrical safety with tweens and teenagers.”
Plymouth is one of three Massachusetts communities that have alerted the state fire marshal’s office about teens putting themselves and others in dangerous situations trying to recreate this viral video. There were reports of scorched outlets in a home in Holden and in classrooms at Westford Academy and Plymouth North High School.
Over at Westford Academy, a student is being criminally charged after a school evacuation last Friday revealed at least $700 in damage.
It happened twice in the same classroom in Plymouth on Tuesday.
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