West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is urging vapers to take extra care with e-cigarettes after a fire in a home on Sunday.
Two fire engines from Crawley Fire Station were mobilised to reports of a small fire in a flat on Calvin Walk in Bewbush at 9.18am.
The occupant of the flat had been woken by their smoke alarm sounding, which alerted him to a fire. He was then able to extinguish the fire using a glass of water.
Watch Commander of Crawley White Watch, Matt Cole, attended the incident. He said: “The fire had broken out due to an exploding e-cigarette battery, which caused a small fire on the carpet. Despite it only being a small battery, it caused significant smoke which set off the smoke alarm. Luckily the resident’s quick thinking resulted in the fire being extinguished before it was able to take hold, but it still managed to cause smoke and soot damage to the skirting board and wall, as well as heat damage to a nearby sofa where the e-cigarette unit came to rest and many minor burns to the surrounding carpet.
“Fortunately this resident had a working smoke alarm fitted at their property. Had they not been woken up by the alarm, the damage caused by this fire would be significantly worse.”
WSFRS is urging residents to follow some simple steps when using an e-cigarette to help keep themselves safe:
- Never leave a vaping device charging unattended, and never leave them charging overnight – especially next to your bed
- Do not mix components of different e-cigarettes
- Only use the charger supplied
- Ensure you purchase your e-cigarette from a reputable source
- Check the e-cigarette carries CE certification
- Never let your battery come into contact with metal items such as coins or keys in a pocket or bag, as this can cause a short circuit and explosion.
- Contact Trading Standards over any e-cigarette safety concerns
- Test your smoke alarm regularly
Nicki Peddle, West Sussex Fire & rescue Service’s Head of Prevention, said: “Although vaping doesn’t carry quite the same risks as smoking particularly for those who might drop a cigarette if they fall asleep in bed or in a comfy chair there still fire risks associated with these devices. There have been a number of cases from around the country in recent years where people have been seriously injured or a serious fire has started as a result of the battery.
“Please take extra care when charging your device, and only use the charger that came with the original product.”
For more information on home fire safety visit: https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire-emergencies-and-crime/west-sussex-fire-and-rescue-service/home-fire-safety/
