UK
A nationwide alert has been issued after a “highly disturbing” spate of fires caused by exploding e-cigarette chargers. The country’s fire services say incidents occur because some electronic cigarettes smokers are not using compatible chargers, causing overheating. As e-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular, with over two million Britons using them each year, the number of fires caused by incompatible chargers is rising.
Figures from nationwide fire services reveal that they have attended 113 calls to e-cigarette-related blazes in recent years: there were only eight calls in 2012, but the number soared to 43 in 2013, and there were at least 62 in 2014. Firefighters say many fires occur because some smokers are not using compatible chargers. This means too much current goes into the batteries and they overheat and eventually explode.
A similar e-cigarette battery exploded when it was left to charge in a house in Solihull, causing a fire and subsequent smoke damage to much of the room and its contents. The local government association, which represents all 49 fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales, is calling for e-cigarette manufacturers to do more to warn of the dangers.
“The recent spate of fires connected with e-cigarettes is highly disturbing and we are issuing a nationwide alert to users to be vigilant at all times. We are warning them that it is simply not worth risking their lives to save a few pounds by buying dodgy, dangerous or incompatible chargers,” said councillor Jeremy Hilton, the association’s fire services management committee chair.