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Staying fire safe with vapes and e-cigarettes

HOMELIFE

April 2024

Dropping a vape or e-cigarette on the floor may not cause a fire, but they still can be a fire risk. Faulty products and poor charging practices can put you and your family in danger.


Here are our safety tips:

  • Never let your vape’s battery touch metal items such as coins or keys in a bag or your pocket. The fire service has reported that keys in a pocket could cause the battery of a vape to short-circuit and catch fire
  • Buy vapes and e-cigarettes from reputable retailers and don’t buy fake goods. Fire risks around vaping often come from counterfeit or faulty products
  • Follow the instructions for use carefully and pay close attention to any warnings
  • Never remove or disable safety features that are designed to prevent the battery overheating or exploding
  • Always make sure that e cigarettes and e-liquids are out of reach of children and pets
  • Never use vapes or e-cigarettes close to medical oxygen, or where there are emollient creams (used to treat dry skin conditions like eczema) or airflow mattresses.

Batteries and charging

Fire risks with vaping and e-cigarettes relate to their batteries and how they’re charged, so remember:

  • Only use the charger that came with your device
  • Never leave e-cigarettes charging unattended or on overnight
  • Don’t leave items continuously on charge (after the charge cycle is complete)
  • Don’t cover batteries that are on charge as they can  overheatAvoid storing, using or charging batteries in extremes of high or low temperatures
  • Protect batteries against being damaged, crushed or punctured and don’t immerse in water
  • Dispose of batteries carefully – you can dispose of vapes or e-cigarettes at your local authority refuge and recycling centre in the small electrical items area. Your local vape shop may also have a collection bin.

If your vape or e-cigarette catches fire whilst you are carrying it, remember this advice if your clothes catch fire:

  1. STOP what you are doing
  2. DROP to the ground and cover your face with your hands 
  3. ROLL over and over to put out the flames.