Faulty vape linked to serious Sheffield house fire which closed major road

A faulty vape is believed to have caused a serious house fire in Sheffield that closed one of the city's busiest roads. Firefighters were called to Abbeydale Road on Sunday afternoon after a 999 call reported the blaze. The road was closed near the junction with Steade Road, with red and white tape stretched across the street while emergency services worked. South Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service also attended the scene. In a statement, they said: "The fire is believed to have been caused by a faulty battery on a vape which spread to clothing and other materials." Three fire engines were sent to the fire after a call was received at 1.24pm on Sunday. One hose reel was used to put out the fire, which was located in an attic bedroom. The incident was dealt with by 3.23pm. South Yorkshire Police said the fire was not thought to be suspicious. Disposable vapes have previously been linked with causing fires and were banned last year. Vapes contain lithium batteries which can catch fire if crushed or damaged in the waste stream. Firefighters have issued advice warning that lots of the risk around vaping and e-cigarettes is related to their batteries and how they're charged. They advise: only use the charger that came with the device; never leave the device charging unattended or overnight; don't leave items continuously on charge; do not cover batteries that are on charge; avoid extreme temperatures; protect batteries from damage; and if a battery gets unusually hot, bulges, or hisses, stop using it immediately. If a device catches fire or explodes, do not try to tackle the fire yourself; get out of the property, away from the device, and call 999.

(Source：The Star)