UK: Fire Chiefs Call for Safety Messages to Be Put on E-Cigarettes After Devices Cause More Than 100 Fires And One Fatality in Less Than Two Years

Source from:  The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday 11/17/2014

David Thomson, 62, was killed after a charging e-cigarette exploded and ignited oxygen equipment Other reports have show serious devastation to homes and cars.

Local Government Association urged manufacturers to do more to warn of dangers and place prominent safety labels on products.

Fire chiefs are calling for safety messages to be displayed on electronic cigarettes after it was revealed the devices have caused more than 100 fires in less than two years.

And in August, David Thomson, 62, was killed when an e-cigarette on charge exploded and ignited oxygen equipment he was believed to have been using.

It was thought to be the first fatality from a fire involving an e-cigarette in Britain.

Other incidents have resulted in people hurt and also reports of users' homes and cars being badly damaged.

But the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents all 46 fire authorities in England and Wales, said the numbers could just be the 'tip of the iceberg' - warning many more cases may be going unreported.

Many incidents are sparked by users connecting e-cigarettes to incompatible chargers - leading to melted appliances and in some cases, more serious devastation.

The LGA wants manufacturers to do more to warn of the dangers, with possible measures to include placing prominent safety labels on products. Enditem