On Sunday the 7th of December, a devastating house fire was caused by an e-cigarette charger. Terry Skinner from Sheerness put his e-cigarette on charge using equipment that was not intended for his particular model. Within around ten minutes, the internal battery exploded and the results were disastrous.
As a result, Kent Fire and Rescue Service is teaching users how to charge e-cigarettes safely. They urge users to educate themselves on what equipment is compatible with their devices and to make sure they follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions when it comes to charging them.
The consequences of Terry’s mistake
“I’d put my kids to bed and put the e-cigarette on charge. About five minutes later I heard a bang, I just assumed it was our neighbours moving things about. I heard another bang so went upstairs and opened our bedroom door to find the blaze.” – Terry Skinner
These ferocious fires are caused when a piece of electrical equipment is charged at a much higher wattage than needed. The equipment cannot handle the higher electrical current running through it and therefore explodes.
This case emphasises the importance of reading and understanding an instruction manual. Recent national figures show that there has been a dramatic increase in e-cigarette fires over the past 2 years. Last year there were 43 emergency fire call-outs to e-cigarette fires. This year, there have been 62 since November alone!
How to charge e-cigarettes safely
Kent fire and rescue service advises that you properly read the instructions that come with your device, and ensure your property has fire alarms on every level of your home that are regularly maintained.
Please be wary of overheating when charging electrical equipment for long periods of time. Always ensure that you are using the charging equipment intended for your device! If you lose your charger and require a new one, go back to the shop you purchased your device from and request the right make and model.
“When we arrived we were faced with a fire well alight in the front bedroom. The fire caused 80% damage to the room; the rest of the upstairs has extensive smoke damage.” -KFRS Watch Manager, Andy Bridger-Smart
Andy added: “This is extremely sad for the family, especially as young children are involved and so soon before Christmas. The devastating effects of fire in the home can be life changing. It is something that could happen to anyone if the wrong charger is used for an electrical device and the internal battery cannot handle a different voltage – it can catch fire.”