Smoke coming out of the flash! HELP!

[ahsm57]

Ok, I was sitting beside the window fooling around with the digital camera. Trying out different modes, and so on. And then I take another picture and I see a little smoke coming out from the flash. I feel the flash with my finger and it's hot. I might've covered the flash with my finger accidently a few times =/ Someone please help me, why is this happening, how can I fix it, is it dangerous??? It's a Canon PowerShot A75

[Todd Patten]

You should not be posting here. You should be calling the fire department

[ahsm57]

You should not be posting here. You should be calling the fire department

That didn't help much.

[adina]

I'm not sure why that would be happening, but I'm fairly sure that it shouldn't be

I would stop using the camera for now, and contact Canon or wherever you bought it from.. Are you under warrenty still?

[another view]

Everything electronic runs on Magic Smoke. Once you let the smoke out, it won't work anymore...

In all seriousness there's a big problem here. Take the batteries out of it and have it serviced - hopefully it's under warranty.

[PerPlunk]

Assuming that it isn't a defunct flash bulb or something like that... Then most likely there is an internal short or the voltage of the batteries is too high. I'd try first replacing the batteries (and making sure they go in right), and then probably sending it in for repair... If it is out of warranty, well products that start on fire usually get the companies liability lawyers interested...