Following a vape fire in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is reminding people to use and charge electricals safely.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were supported by crews from Nottinghamshire and Humberside to extinguish a vape fire in Gainsborough, which left three houses uninhabitable.
Preliminary fire investigations have determined the vape had exploded due to thermal runaway from overheating. This can be caused by damaged batteries, overcharging, and in illicit vapes that do not pass stringent UK safety regulations.
Dan Moss, area manager for prevention and protection at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “This incident in Gainsborough really serves to highlight why we advise residents to use and charge electricals safely.
“Fortunately nobody has been injured in this case, but three houses have been made uninhabitable and another partially damaged all from a single, seemingly innocuous, vape.
“If you’re using vapes or any device that needs charging, make sure you’re using the manufacturer’s charger, unplug it once it is fully charged, don’t leave it overnight or unattended, and stop using it if the battery shows signs of swelling, overheating or damage.”
Safe charging tips:
- Never leave items charging unattended or overnight
- Always use the manufacturer’s charger
- Avoid charging devices on beds, sofas, carpets to allow proper airflow around the battery, or near anything flammable
- Stop using batteries and devices that show signs of swelling, overheating or damage
- Unplug your device when it is fully charged
Andy Wright, Principal Trading Standards Officer at Lincolnshire County Council, added: "Vape-related house fires are often caused by cheap, counterfeit products such as chargers which can often lack important safety features.
“We cannot stress enough just how important it is to buy vapes and e-cigarettes which meet the necessary safety requirements from reputable retailers.”
For further advice and information about fire safety at home, visit: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/home-fire-safety.