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Warning issued after
e-cigarette sparks blaze in Wirral home
MERSEYSIDE fire investigators are warning people not to
leave e-cigarettes on charge for long periods of time after a charging
e-cigarette sparked a fire in a Wirral home.
Firefighters were called to a property on Norwich Drive in Upton in the early
hours of Thursday, 13 October 2016, after an unattended e-cigarette on charge caught
fire.
A 32 year old male occupier was woken by his dog and together they were able to
flee their home safely before firefighters arrived.
The man was given oxygen by firefighters after suffering slight
smoke inhalation and taken to Arrowe Park Hospital by paramedics for further
checks.
Fire crews extinguished the blaze and Incident Investigators from Merseyside
Fire and Rescue Service later traced the cause to the e-cigarette device, which
had been left on charge in the living room overnight.
Incident investigator Jo Stephens said:- "E-cigarettes are
becoming increasingly popular and it's very important that people know how to
charge them safely.
This gentleman was very lucky that this fire did not claim his life;
unfortunately he suffered slight smoke inhalation and the property was damaged
by fire and smoke, but things could have been a lot worse.
We would urge people never to leave their e-cigarette on charge while they are
asleep or away from the house, and to always read the safety advice enclosed in
the packaging. Our advice for e-cigarettes is the same as for many smaller
electrical appliances such as mobile phones and laptops; don't be tempted to buy
cheap, unbranded chargers, don't leave them on charge while you are out of the
house or asleep and keep them well away from combustible materials."
Top tips for e-cigarette all users...
► Never leave e-cigarettes on charge unattended for long periods of time.
► Do not mix components of different e-cigarettes.
► Only use the charger supplied with your device.
► Ensure you purchase your e-cigarette and charger from a reputable source.
► Check the e-cigarette carries CE certification.
► Test your smoke alarm regularly.
► Contact Trading Standards over any e-cigarette safety concerns.
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