Nationwide e-cigarette safety warning

A nationwide alert has been issued warning of the dangers of fires caused by exploding e-cigarette chargers.

More than 100 fires have been blamed on the devices over the past two years, according to fire service figures.

The Local Government Association (LGA), representing the 49 fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales, wants e-cigarette manufacturers to display warnings on packaging.

Fire chiefs say many blazes are caused by the wrong chargers being used.

If a charger that is not compatible to the device is used, too much current goes into the batteries, meaning they can overheat and eventually explode.

‘Highly disturbing’

More than two million people across the UK are estimated to use e-cigarettes, which deliver vaporised liquid nicotine but do not contain tobacco and do not produce smoke.

Many e-cigarette smokers use incompatible or cheap chargers however, the LGA says.

Emergency services received eight call-outs to fires related to e-cigarettes in 2012, according to data from 43 of the 49 fire authorities.

That number rose to over 40 in 2013, and there were more than 60 in 2014.

Cases that have emerged recently include:

• A man who died after ca charging e-cigarette apparently exploded in Merseyside, igniting oxygen equipment he was using. A coroner later said the explosion is likely to have contributed to his death
• A Leicester woman who said her e-cigarette and car charger adaptor exploded while it was recharging
• A block of flats being evacuated in Poole due to a fire thought to have been caused by the charging of an e-cigarette

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, chairman of the LGA’s fire services management committee, said: “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.

“Fire authorities all over the country are being called out more regularly to these types of incidents.

“Alarmingly, there is no way of knowing the true figure as we understand many cases are going unreported.”