Copyright dailyrecord
Households across the UK are being urged to check in, under and around their armchairs and sofas for a popular item amid a 'devastating fire' warning. This warning is due to a rise in battery fires in homes that have been linked to e-cigarette devices, such as vapes. Due to their small, hand held size, vapes can easily slip through the cracks of our sofa, where they may never be thought of again. These misplaced devices can quickly become an issue if they become bent, crushed or pierced while being trapped between the cushions or accidentally sat on. Experts at the Royal Vapery have warned that this damage to e-cigarettes can cause the lithium-ion battery to rapidly overheat - also known as a thermal runaway - which can cause surrounding materials to catch fire. Upholstered furniture unfortunately offers an ideal source of fuel to help ignite the fire, which will begin to spread quickly once the spark is lit, reports the Express. This has been a rising cause of home fires over the years as freedom of information data has shown that there have been 1,056 vape and e-cigarette related fires across 39 UK fire and rescue services since 2020 - which is an average of one every other day. A Royal Vapery spokesperson said: "We're asking everyone to check sofas and armchairs now as if a vape has slipped down the side or under a cushion, it is important to recover it before it's crushed or pierced. "And never charge on soft furnishings. A few seconds of care can prevent a devastating fire." Insurers have also indicated that vape-related fires have more than doubled over the past two years, with a whopping 241 fires recorded in the past year alone. With more people now using rechargeable devices following the Government's ban on single-use, disposable vapes , this urgent warning is important now more than ever. Homeowners should also not become complacent if they know that their misplaced vape is out of charge as once they become physically damaged they can still spark flames. Additionally, many people leave their devices charging on soft furnishings. This can help fuel the fire as the accumulation of heat can make the flames spread quickly. As a result, several UK fire services have explicitly warned households against charging e-cigarettes on their beds and sofas. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has also released advice on how to safely charge lithium-ion battery devices to help prevent fires. It is advised that you should not charge a battery while you are asleep or away from home, and to unplug the charger once the battery is fully charged. Households should also remember to "charge batteries only in safe areas, not in escape routes or near flammable materials" and to "use the manufacturer-approved charger and follow charging instructions carefully."
