Kaohsiung City, Taiwan — November 26, 2025
A minor fire incident occurred at a junior high school in Kaohsiung City at noon today after a student sprayed alcohol inside a locker and ignited it with a lighter. The flames were quickly extinguished, and no one was injured, though the inside of the locker was scorched.
According to the school, the student involved said he noticed insects in the locker and decided to use a 75% alcohol disinfectant spray in an attempt to eliminate them. He then lit a lighter near the sprayed area, causing the alcohol fumes to ignite and the locker to catch fire instantly. A nearby teacher reacted immediately, smothering the flames with a cloth and putting out the fire within seconds. The student was promptly instructed to stand in the corridor as an initial disciplinary action.
The principal explained that while the fire was brief, the interior panels of the locker were visibly blackened. The student later admitted he had picked up the lighter without thinking and panicked when the flames erupted.
To address the incident, the school has activated its counseling procedures. The student affairs director has contacted the student’s parents and coordinated with the local youth team to offer guidance and reinforce the dangers of playing with fire. The school confirmed that the student will face appropriate disciplinary measures in line with school regulations.