Vapes cause multiple fires in Plymouth as urgent warning issued
Vapes and e-cigarettes have been the cause of multiple fires in Plymouth and across the South West, it can be revealed. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has been called out to seven fires linked to the devices in the past three years, including bin lorry fires in the city, but say the figure could actually be much higher.
The fire service has also responded to 21 false alarms, caused by clouds of vape smoke setting alarm systems off.
It comes as the council has issued a warning for people in Plymouth to dispose of vapes properly. The council says vapes can cause fires in bin lorries, like this incident in December last year[1], where an refuse collector had a very lucky escape. A similar incident in 2021[2] saw a laptop battery explode in the back of a recycling lorry.
The message has been enforced that vapes – or any product containing batteries – cannot be disposed of in household waste bins, but instead should be taken to Chelson Meadow Recycling Centre or at a battery recycling facility at a local supermarket.
Chargeable vapes can also cause fires within homes, and people have been warned to stay extra vigilant. The fire risks around vaping tend to come from counterfeit or faulty products, and poor charging practises.
Although dropping an e-cigarette or vape won’t cause a fire, electrical elements like chargers have caused fires. When buying e-cigarettes and vapes, people are warned to check the output voltage and ratings marked on the charger and the electrical device (battery) are the same; check for a manufacturer’s brand name or logo and make sure instructions on how to use the product safely, conditions and limitations of use and how to safely dispose of the product are included in the packet.
A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “In the last three years we have attended seven fires linked to e-cigarettes and/or vapes. Additionally, we’ve attended 21 false alarms, caused by clouds of vape smoke setting alarm systems off. That number is quite low and may well be higher, but our recording system means that some may not be captured.
“If we attended a fire, it’s usually a serious fire, as people tend not to call 999 unless it has spread and requires firefighting assistance. So, whilst the numbers are small, they’re significant to the individual’s property.”
A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: “Please do not put disposable vapes or any product containing batteries into either of your household waste bins. The compaction mechanism in the back of the refuse trucks is so powerful it easily crushes a battery, leaving its contents to leak out on to other potentially flammable waste. Only last December, one of our teams had a lucky escape when their lorry caught fire for this very reason.
“Batteries of all kinds should instead be taken to one of our household waste recycling centres. Many supermarkets also have battery recycling facilities.”
Last year Material Focus launched the Stop Battery Fires Campaign raising awareness of the simple actions that householders can take to reduce fires. The campaign, which has more than 70 local authorities participating, promoted the following information: “Never bin hidden batteries, or electricals, don’t put them in your rubbish or recycling bins as they could then start fires in bin lorries on your street. Instead, remove batteries from electricals if you can and recycle the batteries and electricals separately. If you can’t remove the batteries then always recycle your electricals separately.”
Mickey, a waste truck driver for Buckinghamshire Council, who has experienced a fire in a waste truck said: “In the space of a couple of minutes, it went from a bit of smoke to two foot flames leaping out of the waste truck. On this occasion we were lucky, we could get to a safe place, which meant no one was hurt.
“We were also able to, with the support of the fire services, put the fire out. However, these types of fires, if we were on a residential street, could cause untold damage. As it is, our trucks are often seriously damaged, causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage. It’s simple, we can all stay safe, if everyone separates their batteries, and takes them and their electrical appliances and devices to their nearest recycling point.”
Mark Andrews, National Fire Chief’s Council Waste fires lead said: “We urge people to recycle electricals and batteries and not to dispose of them with general household waste. People are often surprised to hear that batteries can cause fires in both bin lorries and waste plants, but they do and as we use and dispose of more electronic devices these incidents are not rare.
“These fires can be challenging for fire services to deal with, have a significant impact on local communities and present a real risk to staff working on lorries and waste plants. Everyone can do their bit and prevent fires by ensuring they dispose of electrical items correctly.”
Can e-cigarettes start a fire?
Although dropping an e-cigarette or vape won’t cause a fire, electrical elements like chargers have caused fires.
When buying e-cigarettes and vapes, make sure that you:
- check that the output voltage and ratings marked on the charger and the electrical device (battery) are the same
- look for a manufacturer’s brand name or logo, model and batch number
- check that the name and address of the producer that comes with the product is an address within the European Union
- check for a CE mark, but don’t rely on this alone to guarantee a product’s safety. A CE mark is a declaration from the manufacturer that the product is safe, but like all markings, it can be forged
- make sure that instructions on how to use the product safely, conditions and limitations of use and how to safely dispose of the product are included
- avoid buying counterfeit or substandard goods.
What goes in each bin/bag
Green recycling bin/bags, or communal green bin
You can put the following items in green household recycling bin/bags, or if you use communal green bins, the same things can be recycled in there too.
Glass
All glass bottles and jars can be recycled, whether they are clear, brown, green or blue.
Plastics
- detergent bottles
- drink bottles
- food trays
- fruit punnets
- ice cream tubs
- margarine tubs
- shampoo bottles
- yoghurt pots
Paper and card
- cardboard packaging
- catalogues
- cereal packets
- directories
- envelopes
- junk mail and cards
- magazines
- newspapers
- office paper
- shredded paper
Metal
- aerosols
- aluminium food trays and containers
- biscuit and cake tins
- clean sheet cooking foil
- food and drinks cans
- metal lids
Brown waste bin/bags, or communal brown bin
You can put the following items in your brown waste bin/bags or communal waste bin.
- coffee cups
- food waste
- lightbulbs
- nappies
- polystyrene
Glass
- broken glass
- mirrors
- sheet glass
Shiny gift wrap
- shiny foil gift wrap
- cards with glitter and glue
- dirty foil
- foil lined food packets
Soft plastic
- plastic bags
- plastic film – if you can scrunch it up it cannot be recycled
Please do not put any batteries in your green or brown bin.
References
- ^ like this incident in December last year (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
- ^ A similar incident in 2021 (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)