Brief Video of Chromebook in Flames at GHS Circulates on Twitter

A brief video of a Chromebook on fire in the Greenwich High School Student Center appeared on Twitter on Wednesday.

The fire took place during lunch block, though Headmaster Ralph Mayo said the flames were extinguished within 10 seconds.

Nevertheless the school evacuated the student center, five houses, the D building, and the media center for 15 to 20 minutes, returning to the building once the Greenwich Fire Marshal gave permission.

“There’s going to be some kind of investigation,” Lt Slusarz said on Thursday, adding that police, fire and school administration have separate jurisdictions, but will work together.

Witnesses will be interviewed and there could be an arrest or arrests.

The District distributes Chromebooks to all GHS students.

“The school will talk to whomever owned the Chromebook,” Slusarz said, adding, “The Fire Marshal is responsible for determining cause and origin of all fires, but the investigation will be a team effort.”

“If it’s determined that there was a criminal violation, then the SROs would be involved,” Slusarz added.

GHS parents were informed in an email from headmaster Mayo shortly after the incident that the Chromebook was “handled inappropriately by several students,” which caused it to “smoke and flame.”

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.

Extinguished Chromebook in the GHS student center. Nov 13, 2019 Contributed photo