Safety advice for families

Fire chiefs have today issued safety advice after a family escaped a blaze at their home which is thought to have been caused by a vape battery. Following the incident, bosses at the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service have now issued fire safety guidance for those who use vape devices. Mark Ledger, watch manager in prevention and education, said: “If you vape using an e-cigarette it’s important that you don’t overcharge your device – as was discovered in South Hylton, when an overheated battery charger caused a fire in the kitchen of a home. “Fortunately, no one was hurt as the family were woken by their smoke alarm. “Please ensure you have smoke alarms on every floor of your home and that you test them on a weekly basis.” “If you or someone you know does use a vape, please follow these safety tips:

Never leave e-cigarettes on charge unattended for long periods.

l Do not mix components of different e-cigarettes.

l Ensure you purchase your e-cigarette from a reputable source.

l Check the e-cigarette carries CE certification.

l Contact Trading Standards over any e-cigarette safety concerns.

l Don’t overcharge. Remove the battery from charge when complete.

l Always use the correct charger and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

l Never charge a battery that has been damaged, dropped or struck.

l Never plug a charger into a non-approved mains power transformer.

l Check your battery has overcharge or overheat protection. l Don’t use if wet. l Do not overtighten the atomiser when connecting it to the charge.