E-cigarette battery explodes in Wigan man's pocket
The man suffered burns to his legs, hands and right forearm.
A man has been left with burns to his legs, hands and right forearm after an electronic cigarette exploded in his trouser pocket in Wigan.
He was sitting in the living room of his home on Dixon Drive in Shevington yesterday evening (22nd August) when the battery inside the device set alight against his leg. He grabbed it, and threw it out of the house - causing further injury to his hands.
He and his family, including a young girl, were in a state of shock when emergency services arrived. Fire crews found a large burn mark, roughly the size of a beer mat, on the carpet while the man was treated by paramedics.
Crews retrieved what remained of the battery from the back garden and have taken it away for investigation.
Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) Watch Manager, Glyn McGann from Wigan, who was at the scene, said: “Having been called to a domestic emergency in Shevington yesterday I’m pleased to say GMFRS were quickly on the scene and made a swift assessment of the situation.
“Though there was nothing to extinguish it was important for us to assist the injured homeowner and his family who were clearly in some distress. The gentleman had been in his lounge when the battery exploded in his trouser pocket, injuring both his thighs. Following this, the battery fell onto the floor, burning the carpet.
"The man then picked up the battery and threw it out of the house, in the process sustaining further injuries to both hands and his right arm.
“Crews were able to collect for assessment what remained of the e-cigarette battery.
“You may not know, but every year 200 people die and 2,000 people are injured across Britain in fires that start in living rooms. With this incident in mind, never put a battery in your pocket and make sure when storing them to do so safely.”
Fire officers are reminding people who use e-cigs:
• Always use the charger that came with your device
• If you need to buy a replacement battery 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
• Make sure your batteries are stored safely and away from other metal items such as keys
• 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