House Fire Caused by Charging Vape Raises Quality Concerns

Vape Explosion Sparks Fire: Serious House Fire Reported in England. Firefighters said the blaze was caused by a vape charging. The incident has raised concerns about product quality issues.

According to a brief report by boingboing on October 5, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in the UK released a photo showing the aftermath of a fire in England caused by a vape charging. Although the investigation has not yet concluded, their advice was to “make sure (vaping devices) meet UK standards and come from recommended manufacturers,” suggesting that buying unbranded products at Chelmsford Market may not be a good idea. 

Firefighters responded to a call on Shadelow Avenue in Chelmsford, where the resident returned home to see thick smoke coming from an upstairs window and immediately called the fire service. When crews arrived, they found a third-floor bedroom on fire. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze. They stated that “the fire was caused by a vape while it was charging.” 

Lithium battery fires caused by low-quality chargers and electronic devices are not uncommon, and concerns over product quality have drawn increasing attention.