Vape battery sparks fire at London block of flats as three-bedroom property destroyed
The London Fire Brigade was called to the flat block on Woolwich Common at around 3.30pm on Tuesday afternoon.
Five fire engineers and 35 firefighters from crews in Plumstead, East Greenwich, and Eltham responded to the incident, with the fire under control by 4.24pm.
Half of a three-bedroom flat on the third floor was damaged in the blaze.
Control officers provided vital survival guidance to neighbouring properties before the fire brigade arrived.
The brigade’s investigators have now said the fire was accidental and likely caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery inside a vape.
A warning has now been issued, urging Londoners to avoid purchasing “fake” chargers, to avoid storing or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures, and to not leave items continuously on charge - for example, overnight.
Concerns have also been raised in the past over vape fires at recycling centres, with over ten fires breaking out across the UK each week due to careless disposal of vapes.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Batteries can present a fire risk if they’re over-charged, short circuited, submerged in water or damaged, so it’s really important to protect them against being damaged and charge them safely.
"Unplug devices once they have finished charging and make sure you use the right charger for your device.
“This is also a timely reminder to test your smoke alarms. Having working smoke alarms is so important in helping to detect fires and save lives. They can provide time to escape.”
Battery safety advice
- Always use the charger that came with your phone, tablet, e-cigarette or mobile device.
- If you need to buy a replacement, always choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust. There are lots of fakes out there, and it can be difficult to spot the difference.
- Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.
- Protect batteries against being damaged - that's crushed, punctured, or immersed in water.
- Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete - it's best not to leave your phone plugged in overnight for example.
- Never cover chargers or charging devices - that includes using your laptop power lead in bed.
- When you travel, avoid keeping all your items containing lithium-ion batteries together, especially on a plane. Check with your flight carrier for additional information or advice.