Note to press: This article contains the most comprehensive list of e-cigarette explosions that has ever been made available to the public, and we are updating it regularly. We believe that the statistics we’ve gathered have the potential to reduce or eliminate e-cigarette explosions, improving safety for e-cigarette users everywhere.
Please use this information and don’t forget to credit our work with a link.
Do you need a statement, or do you have questions? Email admin@ecigone.com.
This article was updated on June 10, 2023 to fix dead links.
Welcome to an article that’s been a true labor of love for our staff: a comprehensive list of all e-cigarette explosions that have ever been reported in the media. In recent years, reports of exploding vapes seem to be on the rise — to the point where many major publications have begun to run feature-length articles on exploding vape pens. Virtually every article about e-cigarette explosions sites a research paper from FEMA which is now many years out of date and doesn’t even begin to shed light on the true nature of e-cigarette explosions.
E-Cigarette Explosion Statistics and Data Analysis
What did we learn in compiling this list? To date, we have been able to find reports of 316 e-cigarette explosions containing sufficient information for us to write about them. Most of these reports were found in local and national media around the world. Here’s what we learned.
316 Vape Explosions: What Were the Circumstances?
- 82 e-cigarette explosions happened during use.
- 92 e-cigarette explosions happened during charging.
- 75 e-cigarette explosions happened during transport, storage or unknown circumstances.
- 67 e-cigarette explosions involved spare batteries for removable battery mods.
When an explosion involves a spare battery for a vaping device, the media may incorrectly report it as an “e-cigarette battery explosion” when the truth is that vaping devices use commonly available lithium-ion cells that work in many types of consumer products. If a person’s spare 18650 flashlight batteries explode in his pocket — which has happened — it’s unlikely that the incident would be front-page news.
It is interesting to note that the nature of e-cigarette explosions has changed over the years. The FEMA document cited above suggests that approximately 80 percent of e-cigarette explosions happen during charging. In addition, most e-cigarette explosions that occurred before early 2015 involved no reported injuries. However, people began to experience different types of exploding vapes when sub-ohm vaping and mods with removable batteries became more popular. More than ever, e-cigarettes explode during use. Explosions resulting from people carrying spare batteries in their pockets are also far more common. Regardless of the circumstances, e-cigarette explosions are far more likely to cause injuries today than they were in the past.
Vape Explosion Statistics: Injuries, Deaths and Property Damage
- 219 resulted in personal injury or death.
- 97 resulted in no reported injuries to people, although these incidents may have resulted in animal death and/or extensive property damage.
Based on this information, it would appear that e-cigarette explosions are more likely to cause injury than not. However, it should be noted that the media is probably less likely to report on events that don’t result in injury or severe property damage.
E-Cigarette Explosions are Poorly Reported. However…
In researching this list of e-cigarette explosions, we quickly became certain of one thing: many e-cigarette explosions are never reported in the media.
Why are e-cigarette explosions under-reported? We surmise that the reasons might be much the same as they would be for any other type of fire. In some cases, local media might not consider the event newsworthy. In other cases, the e-cigarette’s owner might not report the event, perhaps out of embarrassment or because no serious damage was caused. Sometimes, an event might be reported as an e-cigarette explosion when what actually exploded was a spare battery that could have been used for any number of different electronic devices. There may have been some e-cigarette injuries that went unreported simply because the victims exercised their right to privacy. So, the information at our disposal is incomplete. Nevertheless, we have attempted to draw some conclusions about e-cigarette explosions and your safety.
Although e-cigarettes are still relatively new products, their popularity has increased rapidly. Millions of people around the world now use them, even though they are still largely unregulated and their long-term health effects are unclear. As a result, news agencies often report on e-cigarette explosions with more than a slight hint of alarm — and there is some cause for concern. If an e-cigarette is sold with a USB adapter and no wall charger, for example, it hardly seems fair to blame the buyer if the battery explodes after being connected to a computer’s USB port. It does appear that some e-cigarette products suffer from poor quality control. Overly powerful devices are also being sold to some people who don’t truly understand them.
All of this being said, there is a small inherent failure rate with all lithium ion batteries. Owners of notebook computers, tablets, mobile phones, hoverboards and other battery-powered devices deal with these same problems — especially when knockoff third-party charging components are involved. In addition, the relatively low number of e-cigarette explosions are a drop in the bucket compared to the approximately 90,000 fires caused in the United States alone from cigarettes and other smoking materials each year.
How Can You Avoid an E-Cigarette Explosion?
1. Follow battery charging guidelines and don’t charge unattended.
Although they might share the same form factor, all USB ports and devices aren’t necessarily equal. In fact, depending on the USB power delivery standard in use, the current delivered via USB can vary by several amps. Many modern mobile phones and tablets are designed to support “fast charging,” but e-cigarette batteries may not always be up to the task and could overheat if the charging current is too high. So, you should always use the charging accessories supplied with your e-cigarette. If you purchased your e-cigarette without a wall charger, ask the manufacturer for advice. Don’t use your tablet or mobile phone charger. In addition, know that any battery has a small risk of overheating while charging. It is always wise to be nearby while you charge any battery.
2. Don’t carry spare batteries in your pocket. Transport loose batteries in storage cases. Discard batteries with visible damage.
Many of the “e-cigarette explosions” reported in the media actually have very little to do with e-cigarettes themselves. However, many mods use removable batteries and some people don’t truly understand the power of lithium ion batteries. If a metal object touches a battery’s positive and negative terminals, there will be a short and the battery will discharge. If you carry a spare battery with keys or loose change, you’ve got a potential recipe for disaster — particularly if the battery has a damaged wrapper, because the wrapper insulates the battery’s negative terminal.
3. Exercise caution when using mechanical mods, or don’t use mech mods at all.
Most mechanical mods offer little to no safety protection, and some e-cigarette explosions have resulted from their misuse. Your battery might have a short because of a damaged wrapper. Your rebuildable atomizer might have a short because one of the leads came loose. Your battery might be over-drained because you forgot to charge it. Your battery might be over-stressed because the atomizer resistance is too low and you didn’t check it with an ohm meter or because the seller exaggerated the battery’s capabilities. The list goes on and on — and any one of these scenarios could possibly lead to battery failure. Most mechanical mods protect you from none of them. Use mechanical mods only if you understand and know how to mitigate their risks.
4. If you own a hybrid mod, use it with attachments that have protruding center pins.
A hybrid mechanical mod has a hole in the top cap allowing the atomizer to directly touch the battery’s positive terminal. You should use a hybrid mod only with the included tank or atomizer. If you feel the need to experiment, make sure that your new attachment has a center pin that protrudes from the threading. If the center pin is even with the threading, it could cause a short as the pin and threading will touch the battery simultaneously.
List of All E-Cigarette Explosions
What follows is a list of all e-cigarette explosions known to us from August 2009 to the present day. For each explosion, we’ve included a synopsis, a link to the news report, the type of e-cigarette if known and a hypothesis as to the cause if sufficient information is available. We’ll be keeping this list updated in the future. If you’re aware of an e-cigarette explosion that we’ve missed, contact us using the address at the top of the page.
March 2019 — Gloversville, NY
What Happened: A vape pen exploded in the pocket of a student at Gloversville Middle School. The student was taken to the hospital for burn treatment. No other injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2019 — Queens, NY
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery stored in a bag in an airliner’s overhead compartment overheated and caught fire while the plain was on the tarmac. The passengers left the plane, and the airline offered assistance scheduling them for different flights. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely, the battery shorted after touching other metal objects in the bag.
February 2019 — Ford Bragg, NC
What Happened: A soldier’s e-cigarette battery exploded in the pocket of his pants. The article mentions a ball of flame and smoke spreading throughout the room but says that the solder escaped injury. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely, the battery shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
January 2019 — Fort Worth, TX
What Happened: A man’s mechanical mod exploded during use. The explosion severed an artery, caused a stroke and ultimately led to the man’s death. The explosion occurred in the parking lot of a vape shop. The man had just entered the vape shop asking for help with the mod. The people working at the vape shop told the man that they either didn’t sell mechanical mods — or didn’t sell that model of mechanical mod — because of the inherent safety issues. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but the article does confirm that the man was using a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The article includes no information pointing to a possible cause.
January 2019 — Mamaroneck, NY
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery overheated and caught fire while being carried in his pocket. The man suffered burns to his leg and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
January 2019 — Canterbury, NZ
What Happened: A woman’s vape pen exploded on her kitchen counter. She had recently charged it but said that it wasn’t connected to the charger at the time. The explosion resulted in no injuries but caused thousands of dollars in property damage. The vape shop that sold the device immediately initiated a recall of all similar devices sold around the same time. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: It looks like a SMOK Stick X8.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It’s possible that the woman was charging the device with an overpowered wall adapter such as a mobile phone or tablet charger. However, a web search turns up a report of another SMOK Stick X8 explosion while charging. In that incident, the owner of the device confirmed that he was definitely using a 1-amp charger, which should supply the correct current. (Report, Video footage of report)
January 2019 — Chicago, IL
What Happened: A vaping device overheated and caught fire in a bag on an American Airlines airplane shortly after the airliner landed at O’Hare Airport. Flight attendants put out the fire. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2018 — Belgrave, UK
What Happened: A man’s vaping device exploded while he was carrying it in his pocket. He sustained burns to his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but it looks like it could be a regulated box mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2018 — Katowice, Poland
What Happened: A man’s vaping device exploded in his pocket while he was walking with his wife and daughter. The man suffered severe burns to his leg and genitals, necessitating skin graft operations. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2018 — North Port, FL
What Happened: A man’s vaping device exploded in his back pocket while he was at work. The report states that the man was airlifted to a hospital as a trauma victim, but it does not describe the extent of his injuries. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The report specifies that the man was at work and that the exploding vape was in his back pocket. It’s possible that the device was a mechanical mod, and he inadvertently held the fire button down by sitting on it.
November 2018 — Moraine, OH
What Happened: A man was using a friend’s vaping device when he felt the device become extremely hot. He pulled the device away from his face just as it exploded, damaging his front teeth. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: The victim believed that he had somehow assembled the device incorrectly.
November 2018 — Liverpool, UK
What Happened: A man’s vaping device exploded in his pocket while he was remodeling his home. The explosion badly burned his genitals, necessitating a skin graft to his scrotum. The man was described as being in constant agonizing pain. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2018 — Philippines
What Happened: A vaping device exploded in the face of a 17-year-old boy while he was using it. The boy suffered terrible facial injuries. (Source (komorebipost.com) no longer exists as of 2023 and isn’t on archive.org)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the article specifies that the explosion occurred after he “recently” replaced the batteries in his device. It’s also not known whether the device was a regulated or mechanical mod.
October 2018 — Liverpool, UK
What Happened: A man’s vape pen exploded next to his bed while it was charging. He and his girlfriend were sleeping at the time, and the explosion set their quilt on fire. The man’s leg was burned in the incident. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It’s possible that the vape pen was being charged with a mobile phone or tablet charger.
October 2018 — Murrells Inlet, FL
What Happened: A lawsuit filed in March 2019 alleges that a vaping battery exploded while being carried in a man’s pocket. According to the lawsuit, the man required emergency surgery and skin grafts. The lawsuit further states that the man will require medical care for the rest of his life. The lawsuit seeks to have the vape shop that sold the battery held accountable for the injury. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable. The e-cigarette battery that exploded was by Ampking.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
October 2018 — Belgium
What Happened: A vaping device exploded in a man’s pocket while he was walking on the street. The explosion and resulting fire badly burned his leg and hand. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2018 — Lunenburg, MA
What Happened: A man suffered terrible burns to his leg when three spare vaping batteries exploded in his pocket. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely, the batteries overheated and exploded after touching each other or other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
September 2018 — Sarnia, ON
What Happened: A man’s spare vaping batteries exploded in the pocket of his shorts. His leg was burned in the incident. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely, the batteries shorted after touching other metal items in the man’s pocket.
September 2018 — Fort Worth, TX
What Happened: A man’s vaping device exploded in his pocket, starting a fire that badly burned his leg. The man also burned his hand while attempting to put out the fire. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
August 2018 — Scottsdale, AZ
What Happened: A man’s vaping device exploded in his pocket shortly after he got out of his truck. The resulting fire caused second- and third-degree burns to 40 percent of his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like a Kanger SUBOX or TOPBOX.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the device’s battery had a damaged wrapper, causing unintended metal-on-metal contact.
August 2018 — Anaheim, CA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette — or possibly a spare e-cigarette battery — exploded in his pants while he was shopping at a local electronics store. The report states that the man was able to walk out of the store on his own, but he was seriously burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
August 2018 — Shevington, UK
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket. The resulting fire badly burned his legs. The man also burned his arm while removing the battery from his pocket and throwing it out a window. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applcable.
Probable Cause: Most likely, the battery shorted and caught fire after touching other metal objects in the owner’s pocket.
July 2018 — Long View, NC
What Happened: A vape mod exploded in a man’s face during use, causing serious injuries that required hospital treatment. At the time of the news report, authorities were not releasing further details. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
July 2018 — New London, CT
What Happened: A vape pen explosion caused injuries to a man’s face. Although it’s likely that the explosion occurred during use, the report provides no further details. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
July 2018 — London, UK
What Happened: A man’s spare vaping battery exploded in his pocket, causing a severe burn and loss of skin. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable, but the battery was from EFest.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after touching other metal items in the victim’s pocket.
June 2018 — Unknown Location
What Happened: An insurance agency for the maritime shipping industry announced that a crew member experienced an explosion of a spare e-cigarette battery being carried in his coveralls. The man suffered severe burns to his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The report stated that a short circuit occurred due to the battery touching keys being carried in the same pocket.
June 2018 — West Des Moines, IA
What Happened: A man’s vaping device exploded in his pocket while he was sitting on his couch. The man suffered severe burns to his hand and leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
June 2018 — Unknown City, NC
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery shorted and caught fire in his pocket while he was driving home and pulling into his driveway. A burn on his leg was so severe that he required a skin graft. His face was also injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: One battery shorted after touching spare change in the victim’s pocket. The ensuing fire spread to the second battery.
June 2018 — Calgary, AB
What Happened: Two e-cigarette batteries caught fire in the checked baggage area of a WestJet flight bound for Vancouver shortly after takeoff. The pilots were forced to circle back and land the plane. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The batteries may have overheated or expanded due to pressure changes. They may also have shorted after touching other metal objects in the bag.
June 2018 — Machesney Park, IL
What Happened: A woman suffered “significant facial injuries” when a vaping device exploded in her face. The explosion happened at a vape shop called The Vapor Shop Inc. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but it is likely to have been a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2018 — Caledonia, MI
What Happened: A young man’s legs were burned due to a fire that started while he was carrying four spare vaping batteries along with some loose change in a pocket. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: A battery shorted when touching spare change in the victim’s pocket, starting a thermal runaway situation that spread to the other batteries.
May 2018 — Saint Petersburg, FL
What Happened: A man died in a house fire. Authorities said that the man had facial injuries suggesting that his vaping device had exploded near his face. It’s uncertain whether the explosion or the resulting fire caused his death. When the story was published, the investigation was still ongoing. Police later confirmed that the e-cigarette explosion was the cause of the man’s death; he died from a projectile wound to the head. (Source) (Source confirming cause of death)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but the news article includes a picture of the victim holding his vaping device. It looks like it could be a mechanical mod, but it’s hard to say with certainty.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2018 — Essex, UK
What Happened: Spare vaping batteries exploded and started a fire while being carried in a bag in the back of a car. The couple in the front of the car suffered scalp burns and singed hair. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable, but the batteries were made by Samsung.
Probable Cause: Unknown; the article specifies that the batteries were being transported in plastic carriers. It’s possible that not all of the batteries were being stored properly or that a battery overheated and started a chain reaction.
April 2018 — Buffalo, NY
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in the hand of an adult student after he/she took the e-cigarette out of his/her pocket. He or she evidently removed the device from his or her pocket because it felt hot. The report provides no further details. Perhaps the incident involved a high school student who was not a minor. (Link removed in 2023; original source article at whec.com no longer exists and isn’t available at archive.org)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
March 2018 — Stevensville, MD
What Happened: A woman’s mod exploded while she was removing it from her purse. The woman suffered first- and second-degree burns to several areas of her body and was treated in a local hospital. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Wismec Reuleaux RX200.
Probable Cause: Unknown. This is not the first report of an explosion involving a Wismec Reuleaux mod. It is possible that damage to the battery wrappers caused unintended metal-on-metal contact.
February 2018 — Houston, TX
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket while he was at work. He was treated at a local hospital for first- and second-degree burns on his leg and hand. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Most likely the battery shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
February 2018 — Harris County, TX
What Happened: A lawsuit filed in February 2018 alleges that a man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was using it, causing shrapnel to lodge deeply in his throat. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but the lawsuit claims that the battery was made by LG.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2018 — Angeles City, Philippines
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded in a mall, apparently while the e-cigarette was being worked on. The noise — which sounded like a gunshot — caused mall shoppers to panic and stampede. The stampeding shoppers broke a glass panel to improvise an exit from the mall. The stampede injured 10 people. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2018 — Sykesville, MD
What Happened: A man’s vaping device exploded immediately after he installed a just-charged battery. The venting caused burns to 18 percent of the man’s body. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. If the battery exploded immediately after insertion in the device, it is possible that a damaged battery wrapper caused a short due to unintended metal-on-metal contact.
January 2018 — Largo, MD
What Happened: A bus had to pull over for an emergency stop when smoke began pouring out of a passenger’s backpack. After preliminary investigations, authorities believed that the smoke was from an e-cigarette or e-cigarette battery that vented. The news report says that the device’s owner was “possibly” burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2018 — Glendale, CA
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pants pocket as he was preparing to come home from work. The man’s legs and genitals were severely burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable. The battery was made by LG.
Probable Cause: Most likely the battery shorted after coming into contact with other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
December 2017 — Colorado
What Happened: This one was sent to us by a reader named Timothy. His SMOK 22 vape pen exploded while charging from a wall outlet. The vape pen became a projectile, bouncing around the room but thankfully hurting no one. (Photo Evidence)
E-Cigarette Model: SMOK 22 vape pen.
Probable Cause: The SMOK 22 doesn’t include a wall adapter, so Timothy used what he had available. After months of use, he noticed that the device appeared to become hotter during use than it once did. It is possible that the battery failed from the stress of being charged at too high a rate for several months. It is also possible that the SMOK 22 failed to stop charging when the charge cycle was complete.
December 2017 — Denizli Province, Turkey
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while being charged overnight. Firefighters had to rescue the residents of the home, who fled to a balcony to escape the fire. Although no injuries were reported, the home suffered extensive damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2017 — Halliwell, UK
What Happened: A charging e-cigarette battery caught fire. The fire spread to a mattress and clothing. A man fractured his ankle falling down stairs while trying to exit the building. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2017 — Davison, MI
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette batteries exploded while being carried in a pocket. The batteries were inside a regulated box mod. The man suffered severe burns. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like a Sigelei Fuchai 213.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly one of the batteries had a tear in the wrapper near the positive terminal, causing a short against the battery post of the mod. A short caused by a damaged battery wrapper could potentially cause the battery to vent even inside a regulated mod.
December 2017 — Pearl City, HI
What Happened: A man’s device exploded in his face when he attempted to use it. The man lost several teeth, necessitating stitches and oral surgery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: CoilART Mage, unknown tank and battery
Probable Cause: Special thanks to Hawaii News Now for consulting with us on this one. The CoilART Mage is a hybrid mod, and the victim wasn’t using the RDA included with the mod. Per the reporter handling the story, the victim simply connected a tank that he thought looked good with the mod. According to the victim, the battery in the CoilART Mage exploded on his first attempt to use the device. It therefore seems certain that the tank didn’t have a protruding center pin. The tank’s pin and threading touched the battery simultaneously, causing a short.
November 2017 — Mansfield, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded while being charged from a wall outlet. Although the fire caused damage to a carpet and wall, it seems as though the fire was extinguished before major damage occurred. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo e-cigarette from an unspecified maker.
Probable Cause: Most likely, the wall adapter was faulty or charged the battery at too high a rate, causing it to overheat.
October 2017 — Redmond, OR
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in the mouth of a 17-year-old boy while he was using it. The boy suffered injuries to his face and hands. He nearly lost an eye. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2017 — Bavaria, Germany
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket, causing burns to his leg and hand. The man was airlifted to a clinic for treatment. (Link removed in 2023; original source article at turkeytelegraph.org has been removed and is not available on archive.org)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
August 2017 — London, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a bag at Euston Railway Station. Noticing smoke coming from the bag, the police ordered the station’s evacuation. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
August 2017 — Boulder City, NV
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded in a woman’s purse during a city council meeting. The woman suffered minor burns to her leg but did not require treatment. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after touching other metal objects in the purse.
August 2017 — Pierce County, WA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery exploded while being carried in a pocket. The man suffered terrible burns to his leg and intended to sue for compensation. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
July 2017 — West Fargo, ND
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette began to smoke while charging. While the man looked for gloves so he could safely move it outside, the battery caught fire. The man burned his finger in the incident. It took him two days to ventilate the fumes from his basement. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The picture depicts an eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It’s possible that the battery was being charged with a fast-charging adapter, but the news report doesn’t describe the circumstances in detail.
July 2017 — Austin, TX
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette — or e-cigarette battery — exploded in his pocket while he was attending a car show. The man suffered second- and third-degree burns to his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
July 2017 — Bridgnorth, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette — or e-cigarette battery exploded while the man was at home. The man suffered burns to his legs, but the report suggests that he was not badly injured. The report has no further details about the incident except that the local fire department was called to the scene. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
July 2017 — Minsk, Belarus
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette or e-cigarette battery exploded in her purse while the woman was talking through a subway station. The woman quickly dropped her purse, and a security guard stamped out the fire. It appears as though no one was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The news article isn’t clear about whether the explosion was a loose battery or a battery inside a vaping device.
June 2017 — Plainfield, IL
What Happened: A man experienced dual e-cigarette battery explosions when spare batteries carried in both of hits pants pockets caught fire. The man experienced significant burn injuries to both of his legs and racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital bills. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: It is likely that the batteries shorted after coming into contact with other metal objects.
June 2017 — Wigan, UK
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette exploded during charging. The explosion started a fire that caused minor home damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was an eGo e-cigarette. The brand name was 88Vape.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette’s owner was charging the battery with an unapproved wall adapter. 88Vape does not sell a wall adapter for its e-cigarettes.
June 2017 — Moscow, Russia
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a 17-year-old boy’s mouth while he was using it. The boy’s jaw was badly fractured. The fracture extended all the way to his eye socket. The boy will require extensive plastic surgery to repair his face. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. According to the article, the boy made modifications to his vaping device. It is likely that the modifications caused an unsafe load.
May 2017 — Andover, UK
What Happened: A woman’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in her pocket while she was driving. The woman sustained terrible burns to her hand and leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely the battery shorted after touching other metal objects in the woman’s pocket.
May 2017 — Manchester, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s face while he was using it in his bedroom. The explosion triggered a fire that caused home damage. The e-cigarette’s owner suffered injuries to his face, eyes and nose. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2017 — Coeur d’Alene, ID
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging near a bed. One of the home’s occupants quickly put out the fire and was not injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like an eGo or variant.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the charger was incorrect, or the battery failed to stop charging when the charge cycle was complete.
April 2017 — Hull, UK
What Happened: A man felt his e-cigarette becoming extremely hot in his pocket while he was sitting. He threw the e-cigarette across the room, and it exploded shortly thereafter. The heat burned a hole through a couch. The explosion knocked out a section of a wall, and a flying piece of the e-cigarette hit the owner’s leg and created a large bruise. The e-cigarette’s owner also suffered an acid burn on his back. (Link removed in 2023; original source article at hulldailymail.co.uk has been removed and is not available on archive.org)
E-Cigarette Model: Mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Most likely the fire button was held down while the mod was in its owner’s pocket.
April 2017 — Atlantic Highlands, NJ
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette batteries exploded in his pocket when they touched some metal keys. The man was flown by helicopter for treatment in a burn unit. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The batteries shorted after touching other metal objects.
April 2017 — Las Vegas, NV
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded in a man’s pocket as he was walking through a Walmart. His leg and hand were burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The man was carrying a pair of batteries in his pocket. Possibly the batteries shorted after touching each other or another metal object.
April 2017 — Las Vegas, NV
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded in the pocket of romance writer Scott Hildreth at McCarran International Airport. Hildreth’s leg and hand were badly burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the battery shorted after touching another metal object.
April 2017 — Tempe, AZ
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in the lap of a truck driver. The driver jumped out of the truck, and the truck crashed into a tree. The driver was treated for burns from the fire and broken bones from jumping out of the moving truck. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2017 — Franklin, MA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded shortly after he used it. The man put the fire out himself. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2017 — Tarrant County, TX
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in the bedroom of a 15-year-old boy. The boy was not burned, but he suffered and was treated for smoke inhalation. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2017 — Midlothian, TX
What Happened: A spare e-cigarette battery exploded in a man’s pants pocket. The man’s leg was so severely burned that he feared he would never be able to walk normally again. Note that although this report was released in April 2017, the report is unclear as to when the explosion actually occurred. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Possibly the battery shorted after touching another metal object.
March 2017 — Windsor Locks, CT
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a bag while a passenger was waiting to check in at Bradley International Airport. Airport staff put the fire out. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It could have been a mechanical mod with the fire button held down.
March 2017 — Miami, FL
What Happened: An attorney’s e-cigarette exploded in his pants pocket as he was preparing to make his closing arguments in an arson case. The attorney was not injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The attorney was apparently carrying several e-cigarette batteries at the time, so it is possible that one of them shorted after touching another battery or other metal objects.
March 2017 — Verbena, AL
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette or spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The article seems to imply that the battery was inside the e-cigarette when it exploded, but only the battery is pictured.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2017 — Derbyshire, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s pocket, causing severe burns to his leg and arm. According to the victim, the e-cigarette’s tank was removed, and the device was turned off. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The article mentions an “iJoy Looks” e-cigarette. We believe that they may mean the iJoy Limitless LUX, which is a dual-battery regulated mod.
Probable Cause: The protection features in a regulated mod should prevent something like this from occurring — especially if the device is turned off. Possibly one of the batteries had a damaged wrapper, touched metal on the inside of the device’s battery sleeve and shorted.
February 2017 — Calgary, Canada
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket, badly burning his leg. Doctors expected that the man would require skin grafts to recover fully. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery shorted after touching spare change in the victim’s pocket.
February 2017 — Oldbury, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during charging, starting a fire that caused severe home damage. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like an eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: From the picture, it appears that the e-cigarette was probably being charged with a mobile phone charger — perhaps an iPhone charger.
February 2017 — Burlington, CT
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket, badly burning his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The e-cigarette that exploded may have been a mechanical mod without a lock or automatic cutoff, and the mod may have been in the man’s pocket with the fire button held down.
February 2017 — Paris, TX
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was using it. He was hospitalized for injuries to his face and hand. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2017 — Blackpool, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded after charging. The e-cigarette’s owner noticed a foul smell coming from the battery during charging and wrapped the battery in a dressing gown. It exploded and started a fire shortly after. The owner put the fire out himself. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like an eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: Possibly the battery failed to stop charging when the cycle was complete.
January 2017 — Lyndhurst, NJ
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, triggering a small home fire that was quickly contained. According to the report, a similar issue occurred in the same neighborhood in December 2016. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: In both incidents, fire officials said that the e-cigarettes that exploded were being charged with Apple mobile phone chargers.
January 2017 — Pocatello, ID
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his mouth while he was using it. He lost several teeth in the explosion and ended up with bits of shrapnel stuck in his mouth and throat. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: A picture here looks like a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2017 — Magnolia, TX
What Happened: A man was sitting with his family when his e-cigarette suddenly exploded. One piece of the e-cigarette hit the man in the stomach, and another piece hit him in the face. The man lost teeth and sustained a broken jaw. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but the battery was a purple EFest battery.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The report contains too little information.
January 2017 — Waterloo, WI
What Happened: A lawsuit claims that a woman suffered severe burns on her legs, hips and buttocks when two lithium-ion batteries for an e-cigarette exploded while being carried in her pocket. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable. The lawsuit names the Liion Wholesale battery brand, but that seems unlikely as the only batteries bearing the Liion Wholesale brand name on their wrappers appear to be button-top batteries that aren’t suitable for vaping.
Probable Cause: The batteries most likely shorted after touching each other or other metal objects in the victim’s pocket.
January 2017 — Massachusetts
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his face while he was using it. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he received 12 stitches in his face. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: It looks like a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown. A video of the incident shows the man apparently experiencing a problem with the mod shortly before it exploded. It’s possible that the battery’s wrapper was damaged, the coil had a short or the load on the battery was too great.
January 2017 — San Diego, CA
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette batteries exploded in his pocket while he was relaxing at home. The man was hospitalized for the treatment of second-degree burns. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The batteries most likely shorted after touching each other or other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
January 2017 — Santa Rosa, CA
What Happened: A man left several e-cigarettes and e-cigarette components on the bed in a motel room before leaving to use the restroom. Shortly after, a fire started on the bed. No injuries were reported, but the fire caused extensive damage to the motel room. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly, the e-cigarette components were arranged on the bed in a way that caused a metal item to short a battery.
December 2016 — Little Rock, AR
What Happened: A “battery pack” for an e-cigarette vented and started a fire in a passenger’s carry-on luggage during a flight from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Indianapolis. Flight attendants put the fire out. The plane landed safely in Little Rock, and the airline sent a replacement plane to complete the flight. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2016 — New York, NY
What Happened: A man’s two spare e-cigarette batteries vented and exploded in his pocket while he was driving. The man was burned in the incident. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely, one or both batteries shorted after touching one another or other metal objects.
December 2016 — Burnaby, BC
What Happened: A man’s vape pen exploded in his mouth while he was using it. The explosion broke his jaw and teeth, fractured fingers and burned his face and legs. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2016 — Petoskey, MI
What Happened: A battery overheated and burned while charging. Although the battery was destroyed, it was moved to safety before it could start a fire. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Aspire variable-voltage battery.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The battery could have been connected to incompatible charging equipment, or it could have failed to stop drawing power when the charge cycle was complete.
December 2016 — New Brunswick, NJ
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pants pocket while he was at work. The man planned to sue the vape shop — Gorilla Vapes — at which he purchased the e-cigarette and LG, the maker of the battery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. Gorilla Vapes has a large product selection, so the e-cigarette could be almost anything.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the e-cigarette was a mechanical mod, and being carried in the man’s pocket caused the fire button to be held down.
December 2016 — Fresno, CA
What Happened: A man used his e-cigarette on a public bus until he was asked to put it away. He put the e-cigarette in his pocket. Shortly after, the battery vented and exploded. The man was treated for minor injuries. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Most likely, the man was using a mechanical mod, and placing it in his pocket caused the fire button to be held down until the battery overheated.
December 2016 — Putnam County, NY
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket. His thigh was badly burned, necessitating hospital treatment. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the e-cigarette that exploded was a mechanical mod, and being carried in the man’s pocket caused the e-cigarette’s button to be held down until the battery overheated and vented.
December 2016 — New Brunswick, Canada
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his jacket pocket while he was sitting at his desk. He was burned on his leg and abdomen. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery shorted after touching the man’s car keys.
December 2016 — Leeds, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket. The flames vented very close to a baby’s stroller. The man was treated on the scene for minor injuries. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after coming into contact with other metal objects.
November 2016 — Toulouse, France
What Happened: A spare e-cigarette battery caught fire in a nightclub owner’s jacket pocket. The man received burns to his abdomen, and his jacket partially melted. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery’s owner believes that the battery probably exploded after coming into contact with change in his jacket pocket.
Stratford, CT
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his mouth while he was using it. The suffered dental damage and burned his hand. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Apparently, the explosion was almost instantaneous after the man pushed the e-cigarette’s fire button.
November 2016 — New York, NY
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s pocket at Grand Central Terminal. The explosion was captured by a security camera, and the video spread rapidly online. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: News reports state that the man had customized his e-cigarette to deliver a higher voltage than normal. The customization most likely resulted in the e-cigarette operating outside the battery’s capabilities.
October 2016 — Berlin, NJ
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket. The man’s leg was badly burned. Months later, the burns were still bleeding and required skin grafts. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely, the battery shorted after coming into contact with other metal objects.
October 2016 — Wales, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket while he was sitting at a group table in a restaurant. The location of this incident is a guess; the original article does not give the exact location. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Most likely a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Given the fact that the man was seated at the time, though, it seems likely that his position caused the e-cigarette’s activation button to be held down for an extended period. The e-cigarette was most likely a mechanical mod with no safety cutoff, so the battery overheated.
October 2016 — Ketchikan, AK
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded in a man’s backpack on a passenger airplane. The plane was on the ground at the time. The explosion started a fire that caused minor damage to the plane, but no injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery shorted after coming into contact with the man’s keys.
October 2016 — Wirral, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette caught fire during unattended charging in a home. Although the e-cigarette’s owner escaped severe injury, nothing in the home was salvageable except a single family picture. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the e-cigarette was being charged with a mobile phone charger or other incompatible accessory.
October 2016 — South Shields, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, filling an office and corridor with smoke and forcing the evacuation of a market. No one was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the e-cigarette was being charged with an incompatible charger such as a mobile phone charger.
October 2016 — Orlando, FL
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s pocket on the Hogwarts Express ride at Universal Orlando. A fireball shot toward other passengers, burning a man and a girl. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Information is lacking, but it seems probable that the e-cigarette involved in this incident was a mechanical mod and that it overheated because the fire button was being held down in its owner’s pocket.
October 2016 — Wilmington, DE
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket while he was at a food truck festival. The resulting fire caused extensive burning, necessitating surgery and skin grafts. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
October 2016 — Phoenix, AZ
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery exploded while he was carrying it in his pocket. The battery burned the man’s leg. According to the report, the fire was so hot that it left no remnants of the battery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Unknown. According to the report, the man wasn’t carrying anything in his pocket except the e-cigarette battery.
September 2016 — Bushnell, IL
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket while he was driving home. The main sustained substantial burns to his groin and hand. He filed suit against the vape shop that sold him the battery, alleging that the vape shop failed to inform him of proper battery storage procedures. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Possibly the battery shorted after touching other metal objects.
September 2016 — Southern CA
What Happened: A vaping device exploded in a mother’s purse while she was riding with her toddler in the back of a car. The toddler was badly burned and was still undergoing skin graft operations in 2018. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The report doesn’t share details of the explosion’s circumstances, perhaps because a lawsuit is pending.
September 2016 — Staten Island, NY
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette exploded in her purse while she was at a post office. She burned her hands in the incident. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the e-cigarette may have been a mechanical mod without an automatic cutoff for long puffs. It is possible that while being carried in the purse, something pushed into the e-cigarette, holding the fire button until the battery overheated.
September 2016 — Calloway County, MO
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette exploded inside her car, starting a fire that badly damaged the car. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Apparently, the e-cigarette was firing on its own. We have seen reports of this happening, for example, because e-liquid leaked inside the body of an e-cigarette. It seems that the owner didn’t — or wasn’t able to — turn the e-cigarette off.
September 2016 — Freehold, NJ
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette exploded while inside her handbag, which she had placed on the counter at a mall store. The explosion created a large puff of black smoke, but no one was hurt. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but most likely the e-cigarette that exploded was a mechanical mod, and its fire button was being held down while it was stored in the purse.
September 2016 — Haralson County, GA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette batteries exploded while he was carrying them in his pocket. From the report, it sounds as though he was actually carrying three batteries together. When one exploded, it started a chain reaction that consumed the other two batteries. The man’s hand and leg were burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The batteries most likely shorted after touching one another.
August 2016 — Beaufort County, SC
What Happened: A man’s Sony VTC5 battery exploded while being carried in his pocket. The explosion severely burned the man’s thigh, necessitating surgery and skin grafts. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
August 2016 — Spokane, WA
What Happened: A spare battery exploded in the pocket of a teen while he was vaping with friends. His leg and hand were burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted after touching another metal object.
August 2016 — Nefyn, Wales, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a fire that destroyed the upper floor of a property. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The e-cigarette may have been connected to an incompatible wall charger.
August 2016 — Bristol, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery exploded while he was carrying it in his pocket. His leg was badly burned. (Link removed; source article at bristolpost.co.uk has been removed and isn’t available on archive.org)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable, but it looks as though the battery might be an EFest purple battery.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but it sounds as though the battery may have been overcharged. The owner mentioned that the battery felt very hot inside his pocket.
June 2016 — Arlington, TX
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette battery exploded while she was carrying it in her pocket. The woman suffered severe burns in the incident and filed a lawsuit against the vape shop that sold her the battery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the battery may have shorted after touching another metal object.
June 2016 — Chelmsford, MA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded during charging at a Radisson hotel. The e-cigarette’s owner was burned on the hand. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like an ELeaf iStick 50.
Probable Cause: Although the article doesn’t go into detail, it seems probable that the iStick was being charged with an incompatible wall charger.
June 2016 — Kirkland, WA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket, causing burns. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: N/A
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the battery probably shorted after coming into contact with another metal object.
June 2016 — Tustin, CA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his mouth while he was using it. The explosion shattered his teeth and left a piece embedded in his mouth that had to be removed surgically. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: According to the e-cigarette’s owner, the battery was nearly dead. It may have vented because it was over-discharged.
June 2016 — Muskogee, OK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was using it. According to the report, he suffered vision damage and permanent disfigurement as a result of the explosion. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The e-cigarette was sold by a local store called E-Ciggeez, but no further information was given in the report.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2016 — St. Joseph, KS
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette or spare battery exploded in his pocket while he was working at an Olive Garden restaurant. He was burned on his inner thigh and groin but elected to treat the injuries himself. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The article only mentions the battery, but a photo appears to picture a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2016 — Plymouth, MA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s hand, burning his hand and fingers. The man received treatment at a local hospital. No other information is included in this report. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2016 — Margate, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded shortly after he inserted the battery. He was treated for burns. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: According to the report, the battery was inserted backwards.
Probable Cause: The battery may have had a damaged wrapper, which would have caused a hard short if the side of the battery touched the interior of the mod.
May 2016 — Albany, NY
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his face while he was using it. The e-cigarette destroyed several of the man’s teeth, tore a hole in his tongue and burned his hands. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: It looks like a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2016 — Bolton, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded while charging in a boy’s bedroom. Firefighters were called to put out the blaze. Although there was significant damage to the home, no one was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. the e-cigarette charger may have been connected to an incompatible mobile phone charger.
May 2016 — Albertville, AL
What Happened: An e-cigarette overheated while being carried in the pocket of a 10th grade student. He removed the e-cigarette and placed it on a desk. Shortly thereafter, it exploded and burned another student. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2016 — Ogden, NY
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in the face of a 17-year-old high school student while he was using it. His hand and throat were badly injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2016 — Albuquerque, NM
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette batteries shorted and caught fire in his pocket while he was driving. He received severe burns to his leg, thighs and buttocks. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The batteries shorted after coming into contact with one another or the man’s mod, which was being carried in the same pocket.
April 2016 — Seattle, WA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket while he was walking to his car. He received burns that later became infected, requiring multiple hospital treatments. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2016 — Irvine, CA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his hand, starting a fire and badly injuring his face. The explosion caused him to lose his left eye. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but it looks like a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2016 — Fulton County, GA
What Happened: Two spare e-cigarette batteries exploded in a man’s pocket, burning his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable, but it looks like the batteries were purple EFest batteries.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the batteries may have shorted after touching each other and/or other metal objects.
April 2016 — Colorado Springs, CO
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket, causing severe burns to his leg. The man said that he was carrying keys and change in the same pocket. He wasn’t aware of the potential for danger. The incident was filmed by a security camera in the vape shop where the explosion occurred. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery shorted after coming into contact with other metal objects.
April 2016 — Paso Robles, CA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a 17-year-old’s mouth while he was using it in a car. He lost several teeth in an incident that also left him with a hole in his tongue and requiring breathing assistance. As of the date of the report, he was also unable to speak. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Some have suggested that the teen might have been using an unregulated or homemade mod, but we have found no reports to confirm those statements.
April 2016 — Windsor, Canada
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket during a meeting. The man suffered severe burns necessitating skin grafts and the removal of some muscle. More than a year later, he was still applying ointment to the burn three times daily. (Link removed in 2023 as the original source at wtsp.com has been removed, and the article is not available on archive.org.)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable, but the battery was an LG battery.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the battery shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
April 2016 — Long Island, NY
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded while he was carrying it in his pocket. He was burned on his hand and thigh. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable, but the battery was distributed by EFest.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the battery may have shorted after coming into contact with another metal object.
April 2016 — Oswego, IL
What Happened: A car fire destroyed a Chevrolet Trailblazer in a Wal-Mart parking lot, spreading to a second car before firefighters arrived. Authorities believe that the fire was started by a charging e-cigarette battery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the USB cigarette lighter adapter might not have been the correct one for the e-cigarette.
April 2016 — Queens, NY
What Happened: A woman’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in her pocket while she was driving, badly burning her leg. The woman’s attorney claims that nothing else was in her pocket at the time. She plans to file suit against LG, the battery’s maker. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable, but the battery was made by LG.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Ordinarily, a battery might short after coming into contact with other metal objects, but the woman claims that nothing else was in her pocket at the time.
April 2016 — Oklahoma City, OK
What Happened: A spare e-cigarette battery vented and caught fire while being carried in the pocket of a 19-year-old. The man was carrying spare change in the same pocket. His leg and hand were badly burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery shorted after coming into contact with another metal object.
April 2016 — Denpasar, Bali
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was using it, burning his chest and causing damage to his eyelid and fingers. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2016 — Idaho Falls, ID
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was carrying it in his pocket. He claims that nothing else was in his pocket at the time. The resulting fire burned his leg and hand, requiring a skin graft. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The news report doesn’t show or describe the e-cigarette that exploded.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the e-cigarette that exploded was a mechanical mod, and the fire button was being held down inadvertently.
April 2016 — Brooklyn, NY
What Happened: A 14-year-old boy had an e-cigarette explode in his hand during a demonstration at a mall kiosk. It seems that the explosion happened immediately after the kiosk’s employee connected a new attachment to the device the boy was holding. The device immediately exploded, causing gruesome injuries to the boy’s face and hands. He was blinded in one eye. The report alleges that the kiosk marketed e-cigarettes to children and gave them business cards to distribute. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. If the boy was holding an eGo-type battery, perhaps the attachment was a sub-ohm tank that the battery couldn’t support. If the device was a hybrid mod, perhaps the tank didn’t have a protruding center pin, causing the battery to short.
April 2016 — Crawley, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette overheated and exploded while charging, starting a small fire that damaged his desk. The e-cigarette’s owner was home and estinguished the fire before it could spread. The vape shop that sold the device alleges that the man triggered the explosion intentionally by connecting the e-cigarette to the wrong charger so he would return it. Nevertheless, there is photo evidence that an explosion did take place. (Link removed in 2023 as the original source article at crawleynews.co.uk has been removed, and the article is not available at archive.org.)
E-Cigarette Model: Kangertech TOPBOX.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette may have been connected to an incorrect charger.
April 2016 — Derbyshire, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette overheated and caught fire while charging, starting a house fire that was already extinguished by the time firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported. (Link removed in 2023 as the original article at derbytelegraph.co.uk is no longer available and is not on archive.org.)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: According to the report, the e-cigarette wasn’t being charged with the correct charger.
April 2016 — Phoenix, AZ
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was carrying it in his back pocket. The explosion severely burned his leg. He will require surgery and is expected to have a lengthy recovery period. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Since the device was being carried in the man’s back pocket, so it seems probable that the fire button was being held down.
April 2016 — Glasgow, Scotland, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging from a wall outlet in a pensioner’s home, causing minor home damage. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was an eGo e-cigarette, apparently purchased overseas while the owner was on vacation.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but it seems likely that the wall charger being used was incompatible with the battery.
April 2016 — Kalamazoo, MI
What Happened: A man claims that his e-cigarette exploded in his hand while he was using it, causing severe burns. The report only shows a picture of his hand and doesn’t describe the e-cigarette that exploded. However, the picture of the man’s hand does appear consistent with e-cigarette explosions. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
March 2016 — Bear, DE
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded while he was carrying it and another battery in his pocket. A lawsuit is currently pending. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: N/A
Probable Cause: One battery most likely shorted after touching the other battery or another metal object.
March 2016 — Las Vegas, NV
What Happened: A spare e-cigarette battery exploded while being carried in a man’s pocket. He suffered third-degree burns to his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but it is likely that the man was carrying other metal objects in the same pocket, which touched the battery and caused it to short.
March 2016 — Arroyo Grande, CA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was using it. The incident caused burns to his face and required surgery to repair the damage. A lawsuit is pending. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but it was a device with a removable battery.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The man had been using the battery for about a month apparently without incident.
March 2016 — Keene, NH
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a restaurant shortly after being removed from its owner’s pocket. The e-cigarette burned the owner’s hand and face and also hit a nearby customer. No serious injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
March 2016 — Dunfermline, Scotland, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded, most likely after being overcharged but not while it was in use. No one was injured, but there was minor damage to the home. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like a VIP Photon (eGo) e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: It seems the e-cigarette’s owner charged the device with an iPhone charger, which charged the battery at too high a rate. According to the article, the e-cigarette wasn’t plugged in or in use when it exploded.
March 2016 — Atlanta, GA
What Happened: An e-cigarette caught fire in a passenger’s carry-on bag on a Delta plane, delaying the flight. The plane was still on the tarmac, and the fire was extinguished without damage to the plane or injury to the passengers. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
March 2016 — New Hanover County, NC
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his face while he was using it. He lost his left eye, received severe burns and required more than 50 stitches on his face. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Mechanical mod with rebuildable atomizer.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette exploded during the user’s first puff of the day. This might be a situation in which the rebuildable atomizer had a short or the battery was damaged.
March 2016 — Fulton, MD
What Happened: A man was admitted to a local hospital with burns after his e-cigarette exploded in his pocket. No other information is given. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The article contains a picture, but the device could be almost any tube mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
March 2016 — New Orleans, LA
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded while being charged. The owner was able to wrap the battery in a towel and throw it out of a window before anyone was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable, but the picture shows an Efest purple battery.
Probable Cause: It isn’t known whether the failure was caused by the battery or the charger.
March 2016 — Kitchener, Ontario
What Happened: An e-cigarette caused a car fire while the owner was inside the vehicle. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Details about the incident are scarce; it’s unknown whether the e-cigarette was in use or being charged. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2016 — Vancouver, WA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket while he was walking to a friend’s house. His leg was severely burned and required skin grafts. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2016 — Naples, FL
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette exploded when she attempted to vape inside a parked car. She suffered facial injuries including first- and second-degree burns and a lost tooth. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The article mentions the fact that the woman knew how to wrap her own coils, so the e-cigarette may have been a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2016 — Castle Rock, CO
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in the pants pocket of a 17 year old boy while he was at school. The explosion caused severe burns to his leg, requiring multiple surgeries. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The article mentions an e-cigarette — not a battery — but gives no specifics about the model or what actually happened.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2016 — Anglet, France
What Happened: A woman felt her e-cigarette overheat as she was using it while in her car. She threw the e-cigarette into the car’s passenger seat, where it exploded and started a fire. The fire burned the woman and spread to three other cars. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2016 — Owensboro, KY
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery vented while being carried in his pocket, spraying flames and severely burned his right thigh. The explosion happened as the man was reaching for change to pay for snacks at a convenience store. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. It seems as though the battery wasn’t in use, so no e-cigarette model is implicated in this explosion.
Probable Cause: It seems that the battery shorted after coming into contact with other metal objects.
February 2016 — Woodley, UK
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette exploded in her handbag while she was driving. The woman sustained burns to her legs. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: From the picture, the e-cigarette appears to be an unregulated mod with its fire button positioned on the side.
Probable Cause: Because this device doesn’t seem to have a recessed or locking fire button, it would appear that being jostled in the handbag resulted in the fire button being held down, over-discharging the battery.
February 2016 — Rochester, NH
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while connected to a wall charger and left overnight. Only minor property damage was reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Appears to be an ELeaf iStick 50.
Probable Cause: According to the news article, the owner wasn’t charging the e-cigarette with the charger supplied by the manufacturer.
February 2016 — Seattle, WA
What Happened: A 24 year old man was driving when he attempted to use his e-cigarette and heard a “static-y sound.” In a fraction of a second, the battery vented and the e-cigarette exploded, causing severe injuries to the user’s hand and arm. The same article provides a few details regarding three additional Washington e-cigarette explosions that have taken place since 2014. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2016 — Salt Lake City, UT
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery vented and exploded in his pocket. He suffered second-degree burns to his leg and hand. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Since a spare battery exploded, no e-cigarette model is implicated in this explosion.
Probable Cause: The explosion occurred after the man put spare change into his pocket, shorting the battery.
February 2016 — Tamworth, UK
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded while he was carrying it in his pocket. His leg was severely burned, and he will require a skin graft. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely the battery shorted from coming into contact with another metal object.
February 2016 — Phoenix Metro, AZ
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette batteries exploded in his pocket while he was driving. He suffered burns to his hand and leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: A battery most likely shorted after coming into contact with another metal object.
February 2016 — Bury, UK
What Happened: At a roller rink, an e-cigarette battery exploded while in a man’s pocket, causing severe burns to his leg. The flames narrowly missed his young son. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The article contains a picture of what appears to be just a battery, which would appear to mean that the man was carrying a spare battery that shorted when it touched another metal object. However, in the article the man is quoted as saying “the battery wasn’t even on,” which much suggest that it was inside an e-cigarette at the time of the explosion.
February 2016 — Gainesville, FL
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his mouth while he was using it. The man had used the mod for two months without incident prior to the explosion, which knocked out four of his teeth and caused severe oral bleeding. In 2018, a Florida jury found the vape shop that sold the battery liable for the damages and awarded the victim $2 million. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but the battery was made by EFest.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2016 — Aylesham, UK
What Happened: Two spare e-cigarette batteries exploded while being carried in a man’s pocket. His leg was severely burned in the incident. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: At the time of the explosion, the man was carrying two spare e-cigarette batteries in his pocket. The explosion was most likely caused by the batteries rubbing against each other or touching another metal object.
February 2016 — Surprise, AZ
What Happened: A man put a pair of spare e-cigarette batteries into his pocket before driving. While he was on the road, the batteries vented and exploded. He received burns to his hand and leg and required a skin graft. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The batteries most likely shorted from touching each other or another metal object.
February 2016 — Missoula, MT
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during use, causing severe oral damage. A dentist who witnessed the injury described it as resembling a bullet hole. No other information is given. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2016 — Lyndhurst, OH
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded while being carried inside the pocket of an office worker’s lab coat. The battery’s owner was not injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery most likely shorted from touching another metal object.
February 2016 — Splendora, TX
What Happened: A spare e-cigarette battery exploded in a man’s pocket while he was driving, giving him a first degree burn on his leg. The explosion set the man’s clothes on fire and caused damage to a rental vehicle. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the battery probably shorted after coming into contact with another metal object.
February 2016 — Wichita, KS
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket. The man suffered burns to his leg and hands. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery shorted after touching other metal items in the man’s pocket.
January 2016 — Spokane, WA
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette exploded in her mouth while she was watching television at home. The injury severely damaged her face, necessitating extensive reconstructive surgery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2016 — Manchester, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket. He was in a bar at the time, so there were several witnesses. The man’s hand and leg were severely burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2016 — Unknown Location
What Happened: A unregulated box mod exploded in a vape shop immediately after a battery was installed. The device wasn’t in use, and no atomizer was connected to the mod. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Tuglyfe clone.
Probable Cause: Probably a severe manufacturing defect shorted the battery.
January 2016 — Glasgow, Scotland, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded when its owner pressed the fire button, burning his hand. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was a Cherry Bomber, an unregulated box mod using parallel 18650 batteries. Clones of this mod also exist.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It looks like the man was using a rebuildable atomizer, so his coil may have had a short. However, searching online turns up allegations that this mod may have some design faults.
January 2016 — Cologne, Germany
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was in a vape shop. According to the report, he was there to purchase a new battery and atomizer. The battery exploded immediately when he tried using the two new components in his e-cigarette. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Given that the explosion was immediate, it’s possible that a hybrid mechanical mod was being used with a tank that didn’t have a protruding center pin.
January 2016 — Los Angeles, CA
What Happened: An Air Force veteran had an e-cigarette explode while he was using it. The man sustained burns to his face and shoulder. The explosion happened after the e-cigarette’s owner put in a new battery. He pressed the fire button a few times, and nothing happened. The e-cigarette exploded when he held it near his ear to hear whether the atomizer was firing. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The device appears to be a mechanical mod with a rebuildable atomizer.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The atomizer might have had a short, or the battery might not have been able to handle the load.
January 2016 — Englewood, FL
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during use. The owner suffered cuts to his right eye and burns to his chest and leg. His jaw was wired shut, and several of his teeth were wired to stay in place. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but the picture appears to show a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The e-cigarette’s owner said that he had used the device many times without incident. However, the picture does show what appears to be a sub-ohm tank. It’s possible that a hybrid mod was being used with a tank that didn’t have a protruding center pin.
January 2016 — White House, TN
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while in the pocket of a teenager working for Dunkin’ Donuts. He suffered third degree burns to his thigh and stomach, requiring a skin graft. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was an IPV3 box mod.
Probable Cause: The mod was missing its back cover. The owner was carrying it in the same pocket with his keys, which evidently touched a battery and caused a short circuit.
January 2016 — Lethbridge, Alberta
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during use, badly burning a teenager’s face and shattering some of his teeth. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was a Wotofo Phantom, a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The Wotofo Phantom has both hybrid and standard top caps available, making it possible to use the mod in a dangerous fashion by combining a hybrid top cap with a tank or atomizer that doesn’t have a protruding center pin. However, the device’s owner claims that he didn’t modify any aspect of the e-cigarette.
January 2016 — Hawaii
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in the checked baggage area of a Hawaiian Airlines plane during a flight from Oahu to Maui. The pilot was able to put the fire out and complete the flight. Although e-cigarette batteries are not allowed in checked baggage on flights, the passenger was not charged with a crime. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. In all, at least 26 incidents have occurred with e-cigarettes exploding or catching fire on planes since 2009. Most commonly, these devices have failed because of short circuits or because their fire buttons were held down inadvertently. (Source)
January 2016 — California
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery exploded when he was carrying it in his pants pocket. The resulting injuries were so severe that the man required multiple surgeries and skin grafts. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The explosion may have occurred because the battery shorted after touching a metal object. No details are given in the news story, however. The man is suing the two vape shops that sold him the battery and charger.
January 2016 — Salford, UK
What Happened: A young woman’s e-cigarette exploded when she attempted to use it, causing severe damage to her eyelid. She required surgery and stitches. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Tugboat mod or clone. The battery that exploded was a purple EFest battery.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The woman’s own device wasn’t working, so she put the battery into her partner’s device to troubleshoot. That’s when the explosion occurred. Nothing else is known about the device or its configuration.
January 2016 — Windsor, CA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a 15 year old boy’s mouth when he attempted to use it. The explosion caused severe injuries and resulted in the loss of several teeth. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: According to the report, the boy modified his e-cigarette. However, the exact nature of the modification is unknown.
January 2016 — Jackson County, IN
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while a truck driver was using it. The explosion injured the driver’s face. In the process, he lost control of his truck, causing it to hit a guardrail. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2016 — Northwich, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded next to his bed while being charged overnight. His arm and face were severely burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: ELeaf iStick.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It is possible that the iStick wasn’t being charged with the correct charger. It is also possible that the iStick failed to stop charging when the charge cycle was complete.
January 2016 — Ladera Ranch, CA
What Happened: Two e-cigarette batteries exploded after touching keys that a 19 year old shop worker was carrying in the same pocket. The explosion blew the batteries several meters down the market aisle and injured the man’s leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The batteries exploded upon coming into contact with another metal object.
January 2016 — Colorado Springs, CO
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette battery vented and exploded in his pants pocket while he was getting dressed. According to the article, the battery was “inside of his e-cigarette.” The article also mentions another five cases in which the University of Colorado Burn Center treated patients following e-cigarette explosions. (Link removed in 2023 as the original article at 9news.com has been removed, and the article is not available on archive.org.)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. If the explosion occurred while the man was getting dressed, it’s possible that he was using a mechanical mod and the fire button was held down. It’s also possible that the article is inaccurate about the battery still being in his e-cigarette.
January 2016 — Moultonborough, NH
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while being carried in his pocket, causing severe burns that required multiple surgeries and skin grafts. At the time of writing, the man is suing the manufacturer of the e-cigarette and the store that sold it to him for damages. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: According to the article, the e-cigarette — or at least the battery — was made by Kangertech.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2016 — Royersford, PA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his face while he was using it. The man filed a lawsuit in November 2017 seeking compensation for his injuries. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The man was using a The Rig V2 mod along with a Praxis Spitfire tank and an MXJO 18650 battery.
Probable Cause: Judging from pictures found online, the center pin of the Praxis tank doesn’t extend far enough from the threading for the tank to be compatible with hybrid mods. Most likely, the tank’s pin and threading touched the top of the battery simultaneously and caused a short. This is not the only report of The Rig mod exploding.
January 2016 — Shropshire, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s mouth while he was using it. The man suffered dental damage and burns and required multiple surgeries to his hand. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was a Knight mod or clone.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
Early 2016 — Philippines
What Happened: A man claims that the batteries in his unregulated box mod vented and exploded shortly after it was installed. At the time, no atomizer was connected and the mechanical mod was not in use. His girlfriend was nearby and was burned in the incident. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Pawn box mod with two LG 18650 batteries.
Probable Cause: Unknown. This box mod has a protruding fire button, so perhaps the button was stuck down. The mod also uses a pair of batteries, so perhaps they weren’t matched.
Late 2015 — Omaha, NE
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s mouth while he was using it. The explosion broke the roof of his mouth and knocked out multiple teeth. He had borrowed the e-cigarette from a friend. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2015 — Quincy, MA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during charging at a local business. According to the report, the e-cigarette exploded moments after being connected to the charger. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Most likely the e-cigarette was not connected to the correct charger. The report suggests that the business had a charging area set up for employees’ phones and other items.
December 2015 — Gulfport, FL
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket. The man was burned in the incident and was treated in a local hospital. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Possibly a Joyetech eVic Supreme. If this report is true, it is notable because it would be the first confirmed report of a regulated mod that exploded for a reason other than incorrect charging.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2015 — Kelso, WA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his face while he was using it during a smoke break at work. He required emergency oral surgery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2015 — Pismo Beach, CA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his hand immediately after he pressed the fire button. Apparently, he was using a device given to him by the manager of a local vape shop along with a Kennedy rebuildable atomizer purchased at the same shop. The man sustained injuries to his hands, face and eye. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Although the exact cause is unknown, it seems likely that the atomizer’s center pin, threading or coil created a short.
December 2015 — Oklahoma
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a young man’s face while he was adding e-liquid. A piece of shrapnel hit his head, causing him to require stitches. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: It appears that the man was using a mechanical mod. The article suggests that the components of his device might have been purchased from multiple sources.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2015 — Ogden, UT
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s face while he was using it on Christmas morning. Although no no one was reportedly injured, the resulting fire caused severe damage to the home. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2015 — Clovis, CA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while being stored in a 17 year old boy’s pocket, causing severe burns to his leg. The explosion apparently occurred spontaneously while he was sitting in class. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: According to the article, the e-cigarette was made by SMOK. It is unknown whether the mod was regulated or mechanical.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2015 — Grand Rapids, MI
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket. Loose change touched the battery’s positive and negative ends, causing the battery to vent and explode. The man sustained second- and third-degree burns in the incident. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery shorted from touching other metal objects.
December 2015 — Unknown Location
What Happened: A battery exploded in a mechanical mod while the device was in use. The device’s owner received a bruise but was otherwise unharmed. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: The device’s owner stated that he was using a battery with damage to the wrapper and that he had attempted to repair the damage with nail polish. Possibly the nail polish didn’t insulate the battery, leading to a hard short.
December 2015 — Huntsville, AL
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette batteries exploded in his pocket while he was driving. The man’s leg was severely injured. He filed a lawsuit against the vape shop where he allegedly purchased the batteries. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The batteries most likely shorted after touching each other or other metal objects.
November 2015 — Bohemia, NY
What Happened: A lawsuit filed in 2017 alleges that 30-year-old Thomas Gangi died after his e-cigarette exploded in his face. According to the lawsuit, the explosion drove shrapnel into Gangi’s brain and started the fire that ultimately killed Gangi. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown, but the defendants named in the lawsuit include SMOK, Kangside Technology and Anker Technology.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2015 — Bentonville, AR
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s face when he attempted to use it. According to the article, the explosion occurred the first time the man had ever tried to use the device. Little remains of the mod, so it is difficult to say what caused the explosion. (Source removed; website offline)
E-Cigarette Model: Sigelei Fu Chai mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2015 — Colorado Springs, CO
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded during use, causing a broken neck, facial fractures, shattered teeth and oral burns. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Reportedly, the e-cigarette was made by Kangertech. However, pictures found online make it appear as though the e-cigarette was actually a mechanical mod — the tank is from Kanger, though.
Probable Cause: There are a lot of questions about this one. Although reports cite the e-cigarette as the thing that exploded, the pictures appear to show a broken tank on an otherwise intact e-cigarette. It isn’t known what might cause an e-cigarette tank to explode, let alone with such destructive force.
November 2015 — Cape Coral, FL
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket, severely burning his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The article mentions that the man had just used his e-cigarette and was preparing to use it again. Possibly the device overheated because the fire button was being pushed in the owner’s pocket inadvertently.
November 2015 — Hollywood, FL
What Happened: An e-cigarette caught fire while charging on a bed. The e-cigarette’s owner was saved by her fiancee, who heard or saw some sign of the impending explosion and moved her to safety before it occurred. The home sustained minor damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: ELeaf iStick 50.
Probable Cause: Unknown. There have been some reports of the iStick 50 exploding when charged with the incorrect hardware, but there is nothing in the report suggesting that this device was being charged incorrectly.
November 2015 — Columbus, NE
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was trying to use it. He thought his battery was dead, so he put in another one. The e-cigarette exploded while he was holding it near his ear to find out whether it was firing. The man nearly lost his ear. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The device looks like a mechanical mod. The battery is a purple EFest battery.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2015 — Newport Beach, CA
What Happened: A man heard his e-cigarette make an unusual sound while he was using it in bed. He pulled the e-cigarette from his face shortly before the battery vented and exploded. His hand was badly burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: It looks like a mechanical mod with a rebuildable atomizer, but the specific model is unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The atomizer may have had a short or could have generated a load that exceeded the battery’s capabilities.
November 2015 — Exmouth, UK
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket, causing third-degree burns to his leg and both arms. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The man was carrying the battery in the same pocket as some loose change, which may have caused a short.
November 2015 — Washington County, PA
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded while charging in a moving vehicle, causing some damage to the vehicle and burning both occupants. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The charging equipment looks different from anything we’ve seen before, but it might be the correct equipment for the e-cigarette.
November 2015 — Gopeng, Malaysia
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was using it. The mouthpiece flew off when he pushed the fire button, cutting his lip. He required six stitches to repair the damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The article provides no other information.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2015 — Brookline, NH
What Happened: A woman’s e-cigarette exploded in her face when she attempted to use it. The woman filed a lawsuit nearly two years later against the company that sold her the e-cigarette, seeking compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2015 — Malaysia
What Happened: An e-cigarette caught fire during a flight on a Boeing 737-800. It was being carrying in a passenger’s pocket. The passenger sustained minor injuries, but the fire didn’t spread. The flight reached its destination. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2015 — Bakersfield, CA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s face while he was using it. He suffered damage to his mouth and lost part of his index finger. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The article provides no other information.
October 2015 — Wichita, KS
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s hand. According to the e-cigarette’s owner, he heard a sizzling sound upon installing the battery. He held the device to his ear and listened. The e-cigarette exploded, burning his hand and causing minor home damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It sounds as though the device fired automatically when the owner installed the battery, so the device may have had a design flaw. Alternatively, the battery may have had a damaged wrapper, causing a short that bypassed the fire button.
October 2015 — Springfield, PA
What Happened: An e-cigarette or spare battery came into contact with loose change in a high school student’s pocket, causing the battery to vent and explode. The student suffered minor burns. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2015 — Wyandotte, MI
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s hand while he was using it. The explosion caused minor home damage and burned his arm and abdomen. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2015 — Naples, FL
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while a man was using it, causing severe burns to his face, neck and lungs. His injuries were so severe that he had to be placed in a medically induced coma to alleviate pain. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. No information is given about the device.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2015 — Webster, NY
What Happened: A lawsuit filed in January 2018 alleges that a man suffered painful burns and scarring when his mechanical mod suddenly exploded during use. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Smoke-E-Mountain mechanical mod and LG HG2 battery.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It’s difficult to speculate because the lawsuit is short on details.
August 2015 — Bettws, Wales, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, launching across a room and setting a bed on fire. No one was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette’s owner was charging the battery with a third-party charger.
August 2015 — Cardiff, Wales, UK
What Happened: Firefighters rescued two people and a dog from a home that was on fire. The home’s residents suffered from smoke inhalation. The fire was thought to have been caused by an e-cigarette charger. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
July 2015 — Cobb County, GA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his face while he was using it. He was left with severe burns, dental damage and a hole in the roof of his mouth. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The article provides no other information.
July 2015 — Miramar Beach, FL
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s face while he was using it. Emergency crews performed advanced lifesaving measures at the scene, and the e-cigarette’s owner was said to be in critical condition. No other information seems to be available about this case. (Link removed in 2023 as the original article at waltonsun.com has been removed and isn’t available on archive.org)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette appears to be a mechanical mod with a sub-ohm tank system.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2015 — Unknown Location
What Happened: A battery vented and exploded inside a hybrid mechanical mod. Although there was minor home damage, the e-cigarette’s owner wasn’t seriously injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: SMPL hybrid mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: The battery shorted because it was being used in a hybrid mechanical mod with an attachment that did not have a protruding center pin.
May 2015 — Nantes, France
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in the hand of a young man as he was using it. According to the report, he heard a whistling noise and pulled the e-cigarette away from his mouth. It exploded and injured his hand shortly thereafter. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2015 — Runcorn, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging. The e-cigarette’s owner had left the home briefly, allowing the fire some time to spread before firefighters extinguished it. The home’s kitchen suffered extensive fire damage, but no one was hurt. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2015 — Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging. The battery overheated after being charged with a wall charger for a mobile phone, which charged the battery at too high a rate. The damage to the home was minimal, and no one was hurt. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: The battery was being charged with an incorrect charger.
April 2015 — Jupiter, FL
What Happened: A spare e-cigarette battery exploded in a teacher’s pocket, severely burning his leg. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: The battery may have shorted after coming into contact with another metal object.
March 2015 — Gates, NY
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded in a man’s hand while he was using it. The body of the e-cigarette exploded like a pipe bomb, injuring the man’s hand and causing minor home damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like a mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The article mentions a “nickel cadmium” battery, so the battery might not have been appropriate for vaping. However, we couldn’t find a reference to a NiCd battery in any other article.
March 2015 — Santa Ana, CA
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded during use. According to the article, he pulled the e-cigarette away from his face after hearing a noise, and the e-cigarette exploded shortly thereafter. His face and hands were burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: From the picture, it appears as though the man was using a hybrid mod. In this design, the post of the atomizer directly touches the top of the battery. However, it seems that the man replaced the original atomizer with a different type of tank which isn’t intended for use with hybrid mods. Most likely, the incompatible center post of the aftermarket tank caused the battery to short.
Probable Cause: Incompatible tank used with hybrid mod.
March 2015 — Arlington, TX
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket, causing severe burns to his legs and scrotum. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the battery shorted after coming into contact with another metal object.
February 2015 — Ramona, CA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded in a man’s pocket while he was at a liquor store, causing burns and shattering store glass. Details are scarce, but the article does mention an “e-cigarette,” not an e-cigarette battery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2015 — Joliet, IL
What Happened: A man’s spare e-cigarette battery exploded and engulfed his pants while he was carrying the battery in his pocket. The man sustained injuries and filed suit against the vape shop that sold him the battery. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Possibly the battery shorted after touching other metal objects in the man’s pocket.
February 2015 — Los Angeles, CA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during use, injuring a former professional soccer player. He suffered a broken cheekbone and a concussion, and he was left with a hole in his cheek. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Little information has been released about the incident.
February 2015 — Anaheim, CA
What Happened: A teenager’s e-cigarette exploded in his hand while he was using it. His hand was badly burned. Otherwise, the article provides no details. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2015 — Yuba City, AZ
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, causing some home damage. The e-cigarette’s owner burned his hands putting out the fire. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was an EVOD from an unknown maker.
Probable Cause: It seems that the battery was being charged with a mobile phone charger, which charged the battery at too high a rate.
January 2015 — Toronto, Ontario
What Happened: A man claimed that his mechanical mod overheated while in his pocket, leading to thermal runaway. He threw his device down an alley while it was overheating, and it exploded shortly thereafter. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Stingray X mechanical mod or clone.
Probable Cause: Possibly the mod’s fire button was inadvertently being pressed in the owner’s pocket, or the battery was being over-stressed. The mod’s owner was using a rebuildable atomizer with a coil running at just 0.2 ohms.
January 2015 — Sparks, NV
What Happened: A high school was partially evacuated after an e-cigarette exploded in the gymnasium. No injuries are mentioned in the report. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2015 — Oak Ridge, TN
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, causing a home fire. The home’s occupant was present and extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was an eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: It seems likely that the e-cigarette wasn’t being charged with the correct type of wall charger.
January 2015 — Teynham, UK
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while charging, setting his bed on fire. He put the fire out and was treated for burns on the scene. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette’s owner stated that he wasn’t using the correct charger.
December 2014 — Sheerness, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during charging, starting a fire that destroyed a family’s clothing and Christmas presents. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette’s owner admitted that he wasn’t charging the e-cigarette with the correct charger.
December 2014 — Wigan, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, causing a fire. The home’s resident was nearby and put the fire out before serious damage was caused. Apparently, his sister also experienced an e-cigarette explosion during charging. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2014 — Tacoma, WA
What Happened: A man was critically injured after suffering burns and smoke inhalation during a fire started by an e-cigarette explosion. Emergency workers performed CPR on the scene and transported the man to a hospital. Two other people were treated for less severe injuries, and the home sustained severe fire damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown, but the article does say that the e-cigarette exploded during use.
November 2014 — Stoke-on-Trent, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded and started a house fire while charging from a wall outlet overnight. The home’s residents lost their dog in the fire. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2014 — Rotherham, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded after charging in a van for approximately one hour. The resulting fire destroyed the van. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2014 — Isle of Wight, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a small fire that the home’s residents were able to extinguish. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the e-cigarette wasn’t being charged with the correct wall adapter.
October 2014 — Wigan, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during use. The e-cigarette’s owner felt the device becoming overly hot and dropped it. The device, which apparently failed to vent the released gas, exploded and caused horrific injuries to the man’s legs. Note that many of the articles describing this incident contain extremely graphic photos. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Mutant clone mechanical mod.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the battery was over-drained, in poor condition or used under too high a load.
October 2014 — Sprowston, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging from a wall outlet, narrowly missing a toddler. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Looks like an eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It seems likely that the battery didn’t stop charging when the charge cycle was complete.
October 2014 — Wales, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded shortly after being connected to a wall charger. The resulting fire caused heavy damage to the home. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The article features an illustration of an eGo e-cigarette, but it isn’t clear exactly what type of e-cigarette exploded.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2014 — London, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging in a school office. The school was evacuated, and no one was hurt. The room in which the e-cigarette was charging sustained some fire damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette was being charged from a computer’s USB port. According to officials, the wrong type of charging adapter was being used.
September 2014 — Honolulu, HI
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during unattended charging on a kitchen counter, resulting in a minor fire. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The picture depicts an eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: Either the battery failed to stop charging when the cycle was complete, or the wall charger was not the correct one for the battery.
September 2014 — Limoges, France
What Happened: An e-cigarette or e-cigarette battery exploded in a woman’s pocket, causing severe burns to a woman’s thigh and stomach. According to the report, it was the second e-cigarette explosion the woman had experienced; previously, another e-cigarette owned by her exploded while charging. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was possibly a Joyetech eGo e-cigarette, but a representative of Joyetech France commented in the article that the device might have been counterfeit.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
August 2014 — Liverpool, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, igniting an oxygen concentrator. The e-cigarette’s owner died. Although the exact cause of death was uncertain when the article was published, authorities said that the oxygen concentrator appeared to be in use at the time of the explosion. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: According to authorities, the charger being used may not have been the one supplied with the e-cigarette.
August 2014 — San Antonio, TX
What Happened: During a cloud competition at the Vape Blast convention, a bystander felt his mod overheat and apparently dropped it. The mod exploded shortly thereafter, causing damage to the floor and ceiling. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Possibly a Mutant mechanical mod clone with modifications.
Probable Cause: Most likely, something about the vaping setup over-stressed the battery.
August 2014 — Orlando, FL
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a fire that the home’s resident was able to extinguish. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The charger being used was incompatible with the battery, although it sounds as though the e-cigarette didn’t include a wall charger.
July 2014 — Ringwood, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, causing a nearby air horn canister to explode as well. Severe damage was done to the home. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: According to the article, the charger being used wasn’t supplied with the e-cigarette.
July 2014 — Oklahoma City, OK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a large fire. No injuries were reported, but the fire caused extensive damage to the home. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the battery wasn’t being charged with the correct charger.
June 2014 — Leigh, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded shortly after being plugged in to charge. The explosion started a blaze that virtually destroyed the home and left its residents homeless. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
May 2014 — Tenby, Wales, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a fire that burned a young woman’s legs, hands and abdomen. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette was being charged with a mobile phone charger, which charged the battery at too high a rate.
May 2014 — Birmingham, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a fire that badly damaged a family’s flat. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette exploded was from the E-Lites brand, most likely a cigalike.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette was being charged with an iPhone charger, which likely charged the battery at too high a rate.
April 2014 — Aylestone, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging in a car. The explosion caused debris to fly toward the back of the vehicle, badly damaging the back seat. The car’s owner put the fire out, but the car was badly damaged. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The charger in use wasn’t distributed with the e-cigarette.
April 2014 — London, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, causing a fire that badly burned a London flat. A woman suffered smoke inhalation. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: The charger being used was reportedly incompatible with the e-cigarette.
April 2014 — Stockport, UK
What Happened: An oxygen supply at a hospital ignited, badly burning a woman. An e-cigarette and lighter were found at the scene, so it isn’t clear whether the ignition was actually caused by an e-cigarette or not. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2014 — Richmond, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging under a cash register in a pub. A woman was standing at the register when the explosion occurred. She sustained minor injuries, according to the report. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette was being charged from a wall adapter. It seems as though the wall adapter was not supplied by the e-cigarette’s seller.
March 2014 — Medford, OR
What Happened: An article describes two separate e-cigarette explosions happening in Medford within days of each other. Both incidents caused some home damage. Both occurred while the batteries were charging. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
March 2014 — Syracuse, NY
What Happened: A oxygen machine caught fire at a hospital, burning a patient’s face. The patient had an e-cigarette, which hospital staff believed might have caused the accident. However, there may not be conclusive evidence that the e-cigarette was to blame. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
March 2014 — Lompac, CA
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging in a kitchen. Reported by television station KSBY; article now removed.
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2014 — Colorado
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging from a wall outlet. The explosion started a fire that caused minor home damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: KGO e-cigarette, unknown manufacturer.
Probable Cause: The charger wasn’t the one included with the battery, although they were thread-compatible.
February 2014 — Poole, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, causing a fire that forced the evacuation of 30 people. More than 40 firefighters were called to the scene to suppress the fire. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2014 — Neath, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, causing a fire. The home’s resident was nearby and extinguished the fire successfully. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
February 2014 — Birmingham, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging from a computer’s USB port, causing mild burn damage to the home. No one was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded looks like an eGo e-cigarette. The article cites the Kangertech brand, but it isn’t clear whether the battery — or just the tank, which wasn’t used — was from Kanger. According to the article, the e-cigarette was being charged for the first time.
Probable Cause: Either the USB port charged the battery at too high a rate or the battery failed to stop charging when the charge cycle was complete. Possibly the battery shipped from the factory with some critical fault.
February 2014 — Leicester, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded, causing a home fire. The home’s resident was able to put the fire out before firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded looks like an eGo-type device. The e-cigarette’s owner purchased it from eBay. Interestingly, according to the article, the e-cigarette wasn’t charging or in use when it exploded.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2014 — Norway
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded while he was storing it in his shirt pocket. He had used the device without issue for around six months before the explosion. He was not hurt. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo Spinner, unknown brand.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly the e-cigarette was auto-firing and overheated.
January 2014 — Springfield, MO
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded while charging from a computer’s USB port. The e-cigarette’s owner extinguished the fire, sustaining burns to his foot and leg in the process. His mattress was also badly burned. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo e-cigarette. The seller is unknown.
Probable Cause: The computer charged the battery at too high a rate or the charger failed to shut off when the charge cycle was complete.
December 2013 — Kirklees, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging from a computer’s USB port, causing minor home damage. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Most likely the computer charged the e-cigarette at too high a rate, causing it to overheat.
December 2013 — Salt Lake City, UT
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, causing minor home damage. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette was connected to a computer’s USB port, which may have charged the battery at an amperage that was too high.
December 2013 — Phoenix, AZ
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a fire that caused moderate home damage. One resident of the home suffered smoke inhalation. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
December 2013 — Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging in an administrative building. The fire was quickly put out. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette was charging through a computer’s USB port, which apparently caused overheating by charging the battery at too high an amperage. Interestingly, the building already had a rule in place forbidding workers from charging e-cigarettes with their computers.
November 2013 — Kootenai County, ID
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, sending shrapnel across the room. The home sustained burn damage to the floor, a wall and furniture. The residents of the home were awakened by a smoke alarm and extinguished the fire. The e-cigarette was charging from a computer’s USB port. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo e-cigarette. From the video, it appears to be the Crown Seven brand. It isn’t known whether the charger was included with the e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: The battery was charged at too high a rate or failed to stop charging when the cycle was complete.
November 2013 — Warren, MI
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging from a wall outlet, causing damage to the home’s hardwood floor. The home’s residents put the fire out. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was an eGo e-cigarette sold by a company called Bull Dog.
Probable Cause: The wall charger was not intended for use with the e-cigarette and probably charged the battery at too high a rate.
November 2013 — Queen Creek, AZ
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a fire. The e-cigarette’s owner was nearby and was able to put the fire out before major damage was caused. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was a Crown Seven Gladiator, a type of eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: The television program “3 On Your Side” researched the explosion and determined that the e-cigarette most likely wasn’t being charged with the correct charger.
November 2013 — Eugene, OR
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during unattended charging in a vehicle. The explosion shot debris toward the back seat of the vehicle, causing severe damage. It seems that no one was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was an eGo. It’s unknown whether the car charger came with the e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: The battery was over-charged by an incorrect charger or failed to turn off when the charge cycle was complete.
November 2013 — Colorado Springs, CO
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a fire and burning a mattress. The home’s occupant suffered some burns while putting the fire out. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was sold by a company called “Foos.” The company’s owner offered to pay for the damages if his product was found to be at fault. The exact model is unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
November 2013 — Chesterfield, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a home fire that became worse when a nearby aerosol can exploded. A 68-year-old woman was killed. (Link removed in 2023 as the original article at derbyshiretimes.co.uk has been removed and isn’t available on archive.org)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2013 — Darlington, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a fire that caused moderate home damage. The home’s resident also suffered from smoke inhalation. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo e-cigarette sold under the “Bellos” brand.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2013 — Valparaiso, FL
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, sending burning debris into a curtain, which caught fire. The residents of the house were home and able to move the burning curtain to a carport before major damage was caused. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was an eGo model.
Probable Cause: The picture appears to show two charging accessories taped together. It seems likely that the e-cigarette wasn’t being charged with the correct equipment.
October 2013 — Blaine, MN
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery vented and exploded while being charged from a computer’s USB port. The explosion caused burns to the carpet. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. It looks like an eGo e-cigarette, but the design is unusual and the article doesn’t show the whole battery.
Probable Cause: The article mentions that the battery might not have had overcharge protection.
October 2013 — La Crosse, WI
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded while charging and shot 25 feet across the room. The e-cigarette was charging from a wall outlet. The explosion caused some damage to the carpet and walls. The residents were home and put the fire out quickly. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
October 2013 — Phoenix, OR
What Happened: The same household experienced two separate e-cigarette explosions within a few days of one another. Both explosions occurred with the same type of e-cigarette. It’s unknown whether the same charger was in use during both incidents. It’s also unknown whether the charger was the one included with the e-cigarette. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The article cites the “Smokin T” brand. It’s an eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
September 2013 — Vernon, CT
What Happened: A spare e-cigarette battery exploded while being carried in a bag with other items. The owner reported no injury. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Not applicable.
Probable Cause: Most likely the battery shorted after coming into contact with other metal items.
September 2013 — Maesycwmmer, Wales, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while in a car charger. The battery shot from the charger, badly burning the back seat and other areas of the car. The battery was being charged overnight, and no one was in the car. The fire didn’t spread. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was sold by Vapouriz, although the exact model is unknown. At the time of writing, Vapouriz does sell a car charger. However, it’s unknown whether the charger being used was supplied with the e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: The e-cigarette exploded during unattended charging, but the specific cause is unknown.
September 2013 — Grant Park, GA
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery vented and caught fire while charging from a computer’s USB port. The e-cigarette’s owner was home and put out the fire before severe damage was caused. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was an eGo from a maker called “E-Hit.”
Probable Cause: Unknown. The charging amperage coming from the USB port was most likely more than the battery could handle.
September 2013 — Provo, UT
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging in a car. A portion of the burning e-cigarette bounced off of the car’s ceiling and landed in a child’s car seat. The child sustained first- and second-degree burns. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown. It isn’t known whether the car charger was one provided with the e-cigarette.
September 2013 — Binghamton, NY
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded during unattended charging. The home sustained severe smoke damage as well as water damage from the firefighting effort. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
August 2013 — Oklahoma City, OK
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging, starting a small home fire. The home’s resident was able to put the fire out. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: Unknown. Possibly an incorrect charger was being used.
August 2013 — Cardiff, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette overheated and exploded while charging through a wall outlet, causing minor home damage. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The Vapouriz Gemini e-cigarette is cited in the report.
Probable Cause: The charger being used was not the correct one for the battery.
July 2013 — Tulsa, OK
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery exploded while charging from a computer’s USB port. The resulting fire caused minor damage to the home and set the computer on fire. No one was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette that exploded was an eGo-T e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: The computer may have charged the e-cigarette battery at a higher amperage than it could support.
June 2013 — Sherman, TX
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging. The battery was connected to the USB port of a MacBook. The explosion burned the owner’s hand. He and his wife were both treated for smoke inhalation. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was an eGo e-cigarette. The seller was not mentioned in the article. It isn’t known whether the e-cigarette was being charged via the threading or a pass-through port.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2013 — Oklahoma City, OK
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery overheated and exploded while charging under a desk in the office at an apartment complex. One person was treated for inhalation. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
April 2013 — Glendale, AZ
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while being charged in a car. The explosion sent hot debris flying into the car’s back seat, causing a fire that damaged the car. No one was injured. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The device was an eGo e-cigarette. It isn’t known whether the charging equipment was sold with the e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: If the car adapter was intended for a different device, it may have overcharged the battery.
March 2013 — Corona, California
What Happened: A woman suffered burns to her legs, buttocks and hand when her e-cigarette battery exploded while connected to a universal car charger. She was awarded $1.9 million in a lawsuit brought against the e-cigarette’s distributor, wholesaler and seller. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was from VapCigs, which means that it could be either a 510 or eGo e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: Although the VapCigs battery is a 4.2 volt battery, it seems that it was being charged with a 5 volt charger. It is unknown whether the car charger was also distributed by VapCigs.
September 2012 — Unknown Location
What Happened: A man claims that his KR-808 e-cigarette overheated and ignited while charging. Attached pictures show what appears to be an e-cigarette battery with a fried integrated circuit. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette’s owner claimed that the battery was from the V2 Cigs brand, but the pictures show no logo.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
March 2012 — Muskogee, OK
What Happened: A woman claimed that a OneJoy disposable e-cigarette from NJOY exploded when it was removed from the package. According to her report, the explosion knocked a heavy salt lamp from a shelf and left her with hearing and eyesight issues. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: NJOY OneJoy disposable e-cigarette.
Probable Cause: Unknown. The story has since been removed from the Fox 23 website and only exists in archive form. The original news report did not contain a picture of the e-cigarette that was claimed to have exploded.
February 2012 — Arizona
What Happened: An e-cigarette exploded while charging from a computer’s USB port. No injures were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Joyetech eGo-T or clone. The e-cigarette’s owner mentioned using a “no-name” charger.
Probable Cause: The charger attempted to charge the battery to 5 watts. Most eGo batteries are fully charged at 4.2 watts.
February 2012 — Niceville, FL
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his face while he was using it. He was severely burned and lost teeth as well as a portion of his tongue. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Unknown. The article mentions a “cigar-sized” device, but apparently the device and nature of the explosion are unknown.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
January 2012 — Greeley, CO
What Happened: A man’s e-cigarette exploded in his face while he was using it, causing severe injury when battery acid and flames shot toward his mouth, face and eyes. The man was hospitalized for eight days and sued the manufacturer of the e-cigarette for damages. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarette was a Prodigy mechanical mod by Puresmoker.
Probable Cause: The man was using his mod with the incorrect battery, or perhaps a pair of stacked batteries, purchased from Radio Shack. Following litigation, Puresmoker went out of business in 2013. It isn’t certain whether Puresmoker was found liable for the explosion or simply couldn’t handle the cost of litigation.
November 2011 — Bristol, UK
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery overheating while charging from a computer’s USB port, melting the charger and starting a small fire. A fire alarm alerted the home’s resident, who was able to extinguish it. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: Totally Wicked Tornado battery and VLites battery.
Probable Cause: Although the charger and battery were thread-compatible, the charger might have attempted to charge the battery to a higher wattage than it could handle.
August 2011 — Arizona
What Happened: An e-cigarette battery overheated and exploded while charging, blowing the cap off of the battery and burning some items. No injuries were reported. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: eGo-T e-cigarette, unknown brand.
Probable Cause: Unknown.
August 2009 — Minneapolis — St. Paul, MN
What Happened: A shipment of about 1,000 Ruyan e-cigarettes caught fire on a FedEx MD-11 plane. The plane was on the ground at the time, and firefighters along with the plane’s own fire suppression system were able to extinguish the fire before major damage was done to the aircraft. (Source)
E-Cigarette Model: The e-cigarettes being shipped were from a line called the Ruyan “RappE-Mystick.” Researching this model online only turns up reports of the explosion.
Probable Cause: The batteries most likely overheated and entered thermal runaway.
Top image credit: KTLA
Jason Artman founded eCig One after switching from smoking to vaping in 2010 and has been a professional writer and SEO consultant since 2007. His work has been featured on television and in leading publications, and it has been referenced in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Jason works with leading vape brands around the world to generate targeted web traffic and increase their revenue.
My INNOKIN I taste exploded this morning whilst on charge. I have
The explosion and resulting fire on Cctv.
The device was only 4 weeks old.
Marco,
Please send any information or evidence that you have to admin (at) ecigone.com. With your permission, we will publish it.
On the e-cig forums, “expert” members keep telling the noobs to get rid of their eGo batteries and upgrade to something “better” because most battery explosions involve eGos.
I’m sure if I direct them here to see some actual evidence that contradicts their confirmation bias, I’ll just get verbally abused
Hi SMH,
You are correct that confirmation bias can easily lead to incorrect conclusions about the nature of e-cigarette explosions. Although we believe that we’ve collected more information here about e-cigarettes that have exploded than what’s available anywhere else, the data is still incomplete because we rely on media reports — and people may not report e-cigarette explosions to the media if they’re minor.
It’s true that eGo e-cigarettes were once involved in a noticeable percentage of e-cigarette explosions. It has to be said, though, that eGo e-cigarettes were simply the most popular models at that time — just like a lot of e-cigarette explosions today happen during use — or happen to spare batteries — because many people now buy mechanical mods.
We have no evidence that eGo e-cigarettes are more likely to explode than any other type of e-cigarette. It is vitally important, though, to charge the batteries using the correct equipment.
How accurate the list you have provided in your article. I would considering using the statistic you have mentioned in your article but can you add a chart or a graph that to better understand the survey?
I had a Kangertech mod explode two nights ago while vaping in my living room. Very frightening, it was like a rocket lite off in my hand. Burned two fingers badly. Could have been a lot worse I suppose. I manage to toss it in a glass bowl and get it outside. It was so hot that it shattered the glass bowl. I have pictures if anyone would like them.
Hi Eugene, we will try to do something that makes the information a little easier to digest. We’ll drop you a line when we’ve done that.
Dave, we’re so sorry to hear that you’ve had an e-cigarette explode on you. If we have your permission to publish the information, please do send pictures and any other details that you have about the incident to admin (at) ecigone.com.
I had an LG 18650 explode in my pocket last year causing 3rd degree burns of my leg and hand, the battery was being transported in an empty pocket in the box it came in. The battery was discovered to be either faulty or fake (still ongoing) I find it a little disturbing that when you don’t actually know the “cause” of the explosions that you list it as “probably came in to contact with metal” Not all explosions are due to user error!
Rich,
We’re very sorry that happened, and we hope that your recovery is a speedy one. This list represents that first attempt anywhere online of making sense of hundreds of news reports that tend to be big on sensationalism and light on information. We’re certain that some e-cigarette and e-cigarette battery explosions aren’t the result of user error. When a news report provides no details, though — which happens the majority of the time — we try to hypothesize as to the most likely cause.
February 2017 — Blackpool, UK
Probable Cause: Possibly the battery failed to stop charging when the cycle was complete.
It actually looks to me, by the image in the source, that the person involved actually used a third party (likely cheap chinese product) charger. This is the most likely scenario in this case, since chinese manufacturers generally have no idea about our safety regulations in the UK, and ignore them entirely. There’s a youtube channel called Bigclive.com who does teardowns of electronics, including chargers, batteries and related stuff to find out how safe they are, if they perform as stated (and in the case of batteries, if they transfer the correct voltages at safe speeds etc.). He himself has found on numerous occasions that the chinese are notorious for making unsafe chargers.
And yeah, the one in the picture looks like a clone Apple charger – likely bought from ebay.
are you done collecting data?
We definitely are not done collecting data. Expect a major update to this list soon!
Good job. Did you see this one?
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/electronic_cigarettes.pdf
Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions in the United States, 2009 – 2016
Lawrence A. McKenna Jr.
Research Group
National Fire Data Center
U.S. Fire Administration
July 2017
I am thankful for the information you shared this very helpful and keep spreading the effects of this things. You have done the great job!.
So are there any safe brands of vapes? I’ve been interested in getting one but I wouldn’t want the thing exploding on me. Just reading through this article scares me.
Thanks for your comment, William. We are currently hard at work on a major update to this list!
E-cigarette explosions are scary, Dre. The important thing to remember, though, is that you can eliminate virtually any possibility of an explosion or fire just by following the steps we’ve recommended in this article. Don’t use a mechanical mod, don’t carry bare batteries in your pocket and charge your batteries only with approved charging equipment. It’s also important to remember that the failure rate of vaping batteries is extremely, extremely low. We’ve found reports of a bit over 250 explosions so far. We believe that the number should be zero, so we’re doing our part by getting the information out there. Nevertheless, that number still pales in comparison to the many millions of vaping devices that have been sold worldwide.
Look at the 4 cases online at “hooiki” judiciary, search “JOCOR” as a party, they own Volcano Hawaii the cases are e-cigarette/battery explosions with injuries.
Why are the brands largely unknown? Are the big tobacco companies managing the poor PR?
How can I tell if a vaping device is a “mechanical mod” vs “hybrid mod”? What other types of “mods” are there? Is “mod” short for model or modification?
Tanks a lot for share this blog
August 24, 2016
Philadelphia Pa
[name redacted]
Emerson St in fox chase house fire. Died of Smoke inhalation as a result of vape explosion. He must have woke up because it seemed like he was almost out of his room when they found him unresponsive. I dont know if he was charging it but he was a tinker with mechanics type. Please do not charge anything when ur sleeping. I vape. Still. Its 2021. Almost 4 years later but im very careful. I use only joytech aio with security features and no removable battery. I bought a charge plug and only use the cord that vape comes with. Its not worth the risk for a stronger device or whatever your goal is.