FOI Request 2108

Subject: Fires Caused by Vapes

Status: Complete

Date received: February 2025

Question Asked:

The main purpose of this request is to gather data from each fire service in the United Kingdom regarding vape-related fires.

Specifically, I am seeking information on the following:

The total number of vape-related fires attended by the fire service for each of the past 5 years (2020 - 2024).
If held, a breakdown of the causes of each vape-related fire, for example poor charging or disposal practices, or counterfeit or faulty products.

Our Response:

Please see our response below to your Freedom of Information Request

Fires involving vapes:

Year	Total Fires
2020	1
2021	2
2022	11
2023	6
2024	17

Data showing the cause of the fire and how the vape was involved:

Incident No	Date	Incident Type	Cause	Message
2007009932	31/07/2020 12:30	Fire	Accidental	Fire caused by fault in vape/charging unit
2109009836	25/09/2021 18:59	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Deliberate ignition - inappropriate use of vape
2111008747	23/11/2021 01:59	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Fire involving quantity of paper and clothing in fire caused by using vape
2203001013	03/03/2022 19:35	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Set fire to toilet paper using vape as ignition source
2203005623	15/03/2022 21:49	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire involving quantity of paper started with vape pen
2205002766	08/05/2022 15:44	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Fire started from heated element on vape pen
2205006544	18/05/2022 09:50	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Deliberate fire caused by inappropriate use of vape
2206003558	10/06/2022 11:32	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire caused by paper and smoking vape
2206005454	14/06/2022 18:01	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Deliberate ignition by tampering with vape
2209006867	18/09/2022 13:54	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire believed to be deliberate ignition using vape
2209009453	25/09/2022 17:33	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire caused by vape pen
2209009483	25/09/2022 18:40	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire caused by setting fire to bedding with vape pen
2209010400	28/09/2022 08:18	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire was caused by use of heating element in vape
2212005244	15/12/2022 12:16	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Deliberate fire set using vape pen
2303000667	02/03/2023 20:58	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Caused by a vape pen which had ignited paper in bin
2304002169	06/04/2023 14:29	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Fire caused by manipulation of vape charging unit which was used to ignite paper
2306002689	06/06/2023 11:57	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Set fire to paper using vape pen
2306002689	30/06/2023 18:02	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Deliberate ignition - set fire to toilet paper using vape battery as ignition source
2308010875	29/08/2023 05:02	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Set fire to paper from a book using battery from vape pen
2310006895	18/10/2023 14:37	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Set fire to paper using vape pen as ignition source
2401008183	23/01/2024 19:09	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Deliberate ignition caused by using vape as ignitor
2402009513	29/02/2024 20:26	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire caused by vape battery on to paper
2403001752	05/03/2024 22:55	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Fire in a bin caused by a vape
2403009399	27/03/2024 18:19	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Set fire to tissue using an element from a vape
2404002242	07/04/2024 18:51	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Caused by vape in paper bin
2404004921	14/04/2024 22:51	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Fire caused by vape battery and bedding
2406008799	23/06/2024 16:35	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Caused by heating coil from a vape
2407009996	25/07/2024 18:26	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Deliberate ignition caused by heating element on a vape unit
2407010471	26/07/2024 22:23	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Fire ignited through battery within vape
241008197	21/10/2024 19:20	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Set fire to paper with vape
2411007190	15/11/2024 14:42	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Cause of fire believed to be vape heating element and paper
2411009444	21/11/2024 12:41	Fire	Accidental	Fire believed to have started from vape in coat pocket
2412002789	08/12/2024 14:52	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Set fire to toilet paper using vape pen
2412004511	12/12/2024 19:41	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Set fire to tissue with a vape pen
2412007917	22/12/2024 15:20	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire was started using heating coil from vape
2412009358	26/12/2024 16:45	Fire	Deliberate - own property	Cause believed to be heating element from vape
2412010856	31/12/2024 12:24	Fire	Deliberate - others property	Fire caused by vape and bedding material

Please be aware that there is no specific category on our data systems for fires involving vapes. The information provided is based on a keyword search for ‘vape’ on our Incident Management System. Therefore, the data provided may not include all fires involving vapes unless the keyword was recorded in the messages on the incident log.

Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO

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Last updated: Wednesday, 21 January 2026