A MacBook Pro user writing over at MacForums claims his laptop caught fire during an over-night backup session. Apple instructs Mac users to leave their notebooks running with the MagSafe adapter plugged in while long backup sessions take place. The user reveals this is actually the third MagSafe adapter his MBP has damaged / destroyed, meaning the issue was probably the computer itself, not the powering unit.

“Tonight I went to bed around 12 as usual but I woke up around 1:30 smelling burning plastic,” kenbrinkman writes. “Turns out my MacBook Pro was on fire. Smoke was pouring out the seam between the unibody and bottom enclosure. I actually burned my hand pretty badly ripping the adapter out. Oh man. This is reallllly scary because what if I didn't wake up? It could of [sic] burned my house down. I guess I'm going to the Apple Store first thing in the morning. I don't know what they'll do. What do you guys think??,” the post ends.

After visiting the Apple Store, Ken came back with a more complete story, revealing that the notebook in question had been acting up on a regular basis.

“So the story is that I was doing an initial backup over my network to a time capsule. It needed to copy over 100GB of data and, as the manual states, 'you may need to plug your computer in and leave it on overnight to complete the first backup.' And that's what I did. I woke up an hour and a half later with it burning. I'm sure it wouldn't be as bad if I caught it early, but I was asleep. There was smoke coming out of the keyboard, around the edges and out the ports on the left side. It wasn't a black smoke really, it seemed like a lighter, grayer smoke. The magsafe [sic], though, was completely engulfed. There were green flames coming off of it. I had a folder underneath the computer too and that burned as well.”

The poster then goes to note, “I believe it's the computer not the magsafe [sic]. This laptop has broken two other power supplies, granted not to this extent. Yesterday, I just got the laptop back from the Apple Store again because the logic board and fan assembly needed to be replaced, I think due to the same issue. I was so happy to get it home only to find 6 hours later it was on fire.”

Only towards the end of his second post does Ken reveal that, coming back from the Apple Store, he was promised to get a replacement notebook, free of charge.

Poster cwa107 joins the discussion writing “something to take away” to others who read the thread. As most MacBook fans should know, the MagSafe plug is magnetic. This ensures that, should a person trip over the cord, it doesn't take the MacBook down with it as it falls to the ground. Instead, it uncouples and only leaves the notebook running on battery power. Since the plug is magnetic, cwa107 explains, “It is possible for it to attract bits of metallic pieces and cause a short.” The guy may be right. “...It's highly recommended that you inspect both the port and the connector periodically for dirt and debris, wiping it away with a dry cloth,” he pinpoints. Better follow up on his advice, just to make sure.

Have you experienced any issues with your MagSafe adapter, or the port on your MacBook?