E-cig users are warned of fire danger

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue says it has tackled a dozen fires involving the devices in the last three years.

The organisation says that until 2013 it hadn’t attended a single incident caused by e-cigarettes, but the number of fires involving vaping equipment has climbed since.

Fire investigators think fires commonly start because the e-cigarette is left to charge for too long, they are charged on or close to soft furnishings, or because the charger itself is faulty.

Tips to prevent e-cigarette fires include charging devices on a flat, solid and stable surface, such as a kitchen worktop, and well away from flammable or combustible materials, never leaving the device on a bed or close to soft furnishings or in a cluttered space, and not exceeding the recommended charging time or leaving a device unattended for any significant length of time.

Head of community safety Trevor Bernard said: “Fires caused by e-cigarettes are an emerging trend which a few years ago simply did not exist. Whilst e-cigs may offer a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, they are so popular now we do need to make sure people know how to charge them safely.

“The advice for e-cigs is really the same as for many smaller electrical appliances like mobile phones and laptops — don’t be tempted to buy cheap unbranded chargers, don’t leave them to charge whilst you are out of the house or asleep and keep them well away from flammable materials.”

As part of a major campaign to reduce electrical fires, officers are encouraging people to check the safety of their home electrics by completing a short, online checklist at 13orbust.co.uk.