Glasgow Fire Started in Vape Shop
Emergency services were called to Glasgow city centre 8th March to tackle a huge fire.
More than 200 firefighters attended the scene in Union Street. The fire spread quickly and destroyed a listed Victorian building.
Located close to the source of the fire, Glasgow Central Station was closed for three days while safety inspections were undertaken.
The cause of the inferno will only be confirmed following a full investigation, but it is believed that the fire started in a vape shop on the ground floor of the building.
Safety concerns regarding e-cigarettes and their storage are now being raised.
What Are the Potential Issues With Vapes?
E-cigarettes are powered by Lithium-Ion batteries which are the most commonly used rechargeable batteries globally.
These batteries are lightweight and yet powerful and so are ideal for use in vapes, smartphones, tablets, laptops and e-bikes.
Lithium-Ion batteries are used safely by millions of people around the world everyday and incendiary incidents are comparatively rare. However, the high energy density of these batteries means that they can catch fire if not used correctly, are faulty or become damaged.
Fires caused by Lithium-Ion batteries burn faster and hotter than other fires.
You will have seen stories relating to e-bike fires and various other incidents related to Lithium-Ion batteries.
So, is your device safe to use?
Battery Safety
Issues with vapes are now very rare. The safety of the devices has been consistently improved over the years. Genuine, branded models boast numerous safety features, ensuring that the devices shut down when they detect issues or missuse.
But it is important to remember that counterfeit vapes will not have been manufactured to the same standards and will not have adequate safety measures built-in. They may even contain used batteries or those that have been tampered with. For this reason, devices should only be purchased from authorised stockists that you can trust.
You can check that your device is genuine via the manufacturers' websites.
It is also vital that devices are charged and stored correctly. Please see our guide to battery safety for further information.
Presumption is a Dangerous Thing
As the precise reasons for the Glasgow fire are not yet known, it would be unwise to presume that the cause was a faulty vape. Lithium-Ion batteries would certainly have intensified the fire but may not have caused it. The event could have been an act of arson. It is known that the vape shop was being pursued by debt collectors for non-payment of business rates. This suggests financial issues or unscrupulous trading practices. Did the shop stock black market goods or were the devices stored incorrectly?
Unsurprisingly, newspapers have jumped on the Glasgow fire story, publishing stories which demonise vapes. Journalists have so far stopped short of implying that vapers are walking around with munitions in their pockets but some of the articles are less than balanced pieces.
Vape retailers are not the only businesses with stocks of Lithium-Ion batteries. Every high street and shopping mall features a mobile phone shop or several. The batteries are now essential to modern life. When handled correctly, vape batteries are no more dangerous than any other Lithium batteries.
Such incidents as the Glasgow fire should not inspire fears that your vape will explode or catch fire. If you follow our battery safety guidance and store your equipment away from heat sources including direct sunlight, it is highly unlikely that it will malfunction.
Vape Disposal
One aspect of vaping that has caused issues is the disposal of devices. No device containing a Lithium-Ion battery should be discarded in a waste bin. Batteries have sparked numerous fires at waste handling sites and in vehicles carrying waste to such sites. Used devices should be returned to retailers, placed in designated vape disposal bins in shops, or taken to local Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).
The main offenders regarding fires at waste centres were disposable vapes which are now banned. But any vape placed in a domestic or public waste bin could spark a fire.
Battery Safety Summary
- Always charge your battery using a compatible cable.
- Never use a battery that has contacted water.
- Don't leave batteries on charge when asleep or away from the property.
- Never use batteries that are visibly damaged.
- Don't allow battery terminals to contact metal objects such as keys in your pocket.
- Turn off your device when not in use.
- Store devices in cooi, dry places and away from heat sources.
- Never leave your vape in your car, especially in hot weather.
- Always dispose of your batteries advisedly.