19-year-old says phone exploded, sparked bedroom fire

HIALEAH, Fla. — A 19-year-old says her Samsung phone exploded on her bed and sparked a fire that destroyed her bedroom — just minutes after she stepped outside to pick up her DoorDash order.

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Maya Garcia, 19, told Local 10 News in an exclusive interview that she had no idea she was stepping away from a potentially deadly fire when she went outside to grab her food.

“It was terrifying,” Garcia said.

When she went outside to get the food, Maya left her Samsung Galaxy A15 phone on her bed.

About a minute after the food arrived, Maya and her dad said they heard an explosion.

“I’m sitting there and I hear an explosion behind me,” Garcia said. “Sounded like — boom, like glass shattering, swoosh.”

Her room was quickly engulfed in flames.

“You couldn’t see inside the house — flames, smoke,” Garcia said. “I’m panicking, but I’m trying to stay calm.”

The room was left in ruins, with the phone still visible among the ash. Childhood memories were destroyed.

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The outlet in the room showed no visible signs of an electrical issue.

Local 10 News reached out to arson investigators, who said their report is not finished yet.

Maya and her father said they were told by the arson team that the phone was responsible for the fire.

Maya said if the DoorDash delivery had been late, the story might have had a different ending.

For Maya, there is one word for how she feels.

“Grateful,” she said. “I am extremely grateful. What matters is I’m alive here today.”

Local 10 News reached out to Samsung. The company responded and reached out to the family for information.

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