I agree that there aren't enough details. Any ecig in that trailer would have exploded due to the heat. Arson is a possibility, and you can't fix stupid. What really irritates me is reading the comments after these articles and seeing someone post that "ecigs don't explode"!
Another fire, E-cig exploded, ignited a gas can stored inside the trailer.... Family of 5 lost everything...
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This has nothing to do with ecigs and everything to do with Lithium based rechargeable batteries. If this article freaks you out then do a google search for fires caused by LiPo batteries and add RC heli or RC airplane to the search. People in the RC aircraft hobby use much larger lithium batteries, charge them at a much higher rate, and there have been plenty of fires caused by people lacking in the safety department. Here's a picture of an 18650 battery used for ecigs next to one of my heli batteries for comparison.
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...and I've got an ammo box full of those in my house [emoji4]. People just need to be safe and not blame devices for their misfortunes.
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I'm aware of that, and I am not freaked out. I store my extra batteries in a metal toolbox in my basement. I don't charge batts while I'm sleeping, and I use a passthrough without a batt in my car.
I'm irritated that while this industry doubles every year, people here, of all places, pretend it isn't a problem.
Before the egos came out, cigalikes..., 801, 901, 401, came with a charger and proprietary connectors and that's what you used.
There were only a few commercial mods available, but you couldn't just pick them up at a gas station and charge them on whatever they fit on. The only fires then were from stacked unprotected batts in mods.
If you built your own, you learned about battery safety in the modders forum.
The standardization of the 510 connector changed everything. People think everything is plug-n-play. If it fits, it OK.
BTW, I think the mod in Florida was a Prodigy. Someone earlier said it was a Chuck. It may have been. The details were kept pretty hush around here. There was speculation that he bought camera batteries... Just a lot of talk and rules about vents.
I'm irritated that while this industry doubles every year, people here, of all places, pretend it isn't a problem.
Before the egos came out, cigalikes..., 801, 901, 401, came with a charger and proprietary connectors and that's what you used.
There were only a few commercial mods available, but you couldn't just pick them up at a gas station and charge them on whatever they fit on. The only fires then were from stacked unprotected batts in mods.
If you built your own, you learned about battery safety in the modders forum.
The standardization of the 510 connector changed everything. People think everything is plug-n-play. If it fits, it OK.
BTW, I think the mod in Florida was a Prodigy. Someone earlier said it was a Chuck. It may have been. The details were kept pretty hush around here. There was speculation that he bought camera batteries... Just a lot of talk and rules about vents.
It's because it really isn't a problem in the grand scheme of things. This is all about personal responsibility and, since these devices are meant for adults, then we need to know about the things we own. What do you think could be done to help fix the issue? Using a different battery chemistry isn't really a viable option, and you can't stop people from buying or building their own mods. I think the system is about as safe as it can be at this time. Seriously...if people can buy gas and foolishly store it in their home, then what do you think can be done with ecigs to make them completely fireproof? There's really nothing that can be done unless your for a complete ban of lithium batteries.
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I totally agree. I just think it's wrong to deny the risks.
I see posts here everyday of newbies telling newerbies, "Na, It's cool, Don't worry about it", "I do it all the time".
It only a matter of time until 3 kids die in a fire because some idiot in the apartment below theirs left his knockoff ego charging on his laptop overnight while he slept.
I agree four; it's sad. And at least for the knockoffs, somewhat irresponsible. But the dangers of consumer electronics these days are broad across the industry and very real.
In 2005, I worked at a place answering phones for Microsoft Xbox. I did billing. My horrible job notwithstanding, I sat across from a lady with much more responsibility. All day long she would ask customers, "How long were you playing your Xbox before it caught fire?" "Would you describe those as scorch or burn marks?" "How much were your daughter's doctor bills?" And ultimately have to tell them that while their Xbox would be replaced, repairing their antique coffee table and their doctor's bills would be their responsibility.
They had folks like me offer a "Free Power Cord Replacement Program" to affected units. The original Xbox had the power supply inside the main 'box' which led to them catching fire. The replacement moved the power supply outside the unit so it could stay cooler.
"Recall you ask?, Why No. It's a free power cord replacement program!"
Anyways, I remember the somewhat disturbing realization that consumer electronics were dangerous and could burn your house down. I NEVER thought that my old Nintendo, Sega or even Playstation for that matter would catch fire. Never. And I don't think parents would buy these things for their kid's bedrooms if they thought for a second that they could catch fire.
My first vape shop sold me an authentic joyetech, a nice charger and explained the reasons for investing in quality and the dangers of improper handling. Almost every device that I've bought since my first one has had a book or data sheet detailing the safety requirements. I'm comfortable with that.
People buying knockoffs from a gas station likely get none of that. Or they simply don't read it and plug it into their cell phone charger. I don't know where the line is between industry and consumer responsibility, but I hope the result is a more educated consumer. Avoidable tragedies are simply sad.
In 2005, I worked at a place answering phones for Microsoft Xbox. I did billing. My horrible job notwithstanding, I sat across from a lady with much more responsibility. All day long she would ask customers, "How long were you playing your Xbox before it caught fire?" "Would you describe those as scorch or burn marks?" "How much were your daughter's doctor bills?" And ultimately have to tell them that while their Xbox would be replaced, repairing their antique coffee table and their doctor's bills would be their responsibility.
They had folks like me offer a "Free Power Cord Replacement Program" to affected units. The original Xbox had the power supply inside the main 'box' which led to them catching fire. The replacement moved the power supply outside the unit so it could stay cooler.
"Recall you ask?, Why No. It's a free power cord replacement program!"
Anyways, I remember the somewhat disturbing realization that consumer electronics were dangerous and could burn your house down. I NEVER thought that my old Nintendo, Sega or even Playstation for that matter would catch fire. Never. And I don't think parents would buy these things for their kid's bedrooms if they thought for a second that they could catch fire.
My first vape shop sold me an authentic joyetech, a nice charger and explained the reasons for investing in quality and the dangers of improper handling. Almost every device that I've bought since my first one has had a book or data sheet detailing the safety requirements. I'm comfortable with that.
People buying knockoffs from a gas station likely get none of that. Or they simply don't read it and plug it into their cell phone charger. I don't know where the line is between industry and consumer responsibility, but I hope the result is a more educated consumer. Avoidable tragedies are simply sad.
Tobacco cigarettes cause house fires all the time. Get CDC's recent records on what mostly posions children. Ecigs are relatively new and have great enemies with deep pockets against it. It makes the news.
Individual vapers can rebut with correct information by writing cogent letters to the editor in their local papers to educate the uninformed every time one of these stories appears. Mention E-CigaretteForum.com and CASAA.org as places to get a wealth of information and recent studies and test results.
My point is that we need to be more proactive. People read headlines, Maybe the article, then MAYBE the comments. I can't count the number of people that have expressed to me that "they heard, ecigs weren't really safer than cigarettes." They are usually nonsmokers and I don't waste more than about 4 sentences on them. A nonsmoker is not going to research when they have been provided a preformed opinion from the news media.
I just tried the same exact search criteria
OWENSBORO, KY trailer fire cigarette -e-cigarette -electronic
and the results were within 20 or 30 thousand, Google may return different results depending on the personal profile they keep on you. (comforting thought)
My point was simply fires in the town happen all the time. Making a nationwide story for this one particular fire is disingenuous, if you're ignoring the uniqueness of this particular cause for the fire. Fires happen all the time from many varied causes, many because the safety recommendations on some product was completely ignored.
Warning only work if the person being warned take it seriously. It's human nature to believe "it could never happen to me"....it's the basis of Darwin's theory, cull the unfit.
More established manufacturers will have a bevy of lawyers to advise them on necessary warnings simply to lessen the cost of their liability insurance. It's not seen as solving the problem or making the product safer, just a legal ploy. They know their products will be misused, abused and people will be hurt, but they want every advantage in court when they are sued.
Wow, that's disturbing and something more consumers should be aware of. I always assumed that Sony or HTC/Verizon would be quick to settle if one of their devices set my house on fire. This might be something that renters don't think about.
I have a family friend who had a self docking robot vacuum catch fire. They were home but had extreme smoke damage. The manufacturer and insurance company settled quickly. I tried to explain to my brother that those power tools he uses on the job during the day really shouldn't be charged unattended in his shop at night... Like talking to a wall.
Wow, that's disturbing and something more consumers should be aware of. I always assumed that Sony or HTC/Verizon would be quick to settle if one of their devices set my house on fire. This might be something that renters don't think about.
I have a family friend who had a self docking robot vacuum catch fire. They were home but had extreme smoke damage. The manufacturer and insurance company settled quickly. I tried to explain to my brother that those power tools he uses on the job during the day really shouldn't be charged unattended in his shop at night... Like talking to a wall.
You likely have a correct assumption of an easy settlement. It would depend on if you had been using it normally and in accordance with the directions. The original Xboxes had language in their manual that told people not to leave them on for more than a few hours. (I don't remember how many exactly) Thus the question: "How long had you been playing?" If you'd had your machine powered on for longer than the manual said, then essentially it's your fault for it catching fire (to the lawyers at least).
Cell phones have language in their manuals which tell consumers to keep them a certain distance from their head while talking. (1/2 a cm or thereabouts). How many people do you know that don't keep their phone pressed against their ear? My friends father developed a (benign) tumor directly under his right ear and the doctor told him it was caused by cellphone use. It's quite common but I doubt there would be any liability as it could be shown that most consumers are using their cell phones in a manner inconsistant with the instructions.
But if you're using your phone, or robot vacuum or random consumer electronic normally and acording to instructions and all goes wrong, it's in the company's best interest to settle and settle fast.
Batteries nor devices should be left to charge unattended, but people do it all the time. I've seen an iPhone battery swell so much that it shattered and blew the screen out of the case. The problem isn't nearly as bad as you'd think, though. We just tend to see it more in forums like this and others where the use of these batteries are far more common. I do agree, though, that nobody should be saying that there's nothing to worry about. That kind of ignorance will do nothing but cause more accidents.
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I read that in the manual for my first flip phone. I think it was 1/2 inch. I couldn't even hear it at that distance! But I knew it was there for a reason. I always used headphones for extended calls. Then a friend of mine had a brain aneurysm which led me to read this book. Brain Surgeon: A Doctor's Inspiring Encounters with Mortality and Miracles: Keith Black, Arnold Mann, Forest Whitaker: 9780446198141: Amazon.com: Books
When a brain surgeon won't have dental x-rays or talk on a cell phone at his ear, I take note.
I'm also careful about where I carry my smart phone. We just don't know.
Here's the post where I found by a picture "TheBigD" posted, what battery he used. It was a non-rechargeable batt.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...y-chuck-blew-up-literally-18.html#post1130998
post#178
Here's his response:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...y-chuck-blew-up-literally-20.html#post1132214
post#192
"I am glad my experience has prompted some to post their valuable information on this thread.
The batteries in question in my incident may not have even been rechargeable--probably weren't."
Not 'probably' - they weren't. I don't know if the pictures show or if the battery link works but I know at the time, they were non-rechargeable batts.
OK Kent, This is the one I was thinking of. There have been several but this was the first one I recall involving a fire department, the media and a law suit. It's the one that brought on vents.
Electric Cigarette Explodes in Fla. Man's Face - ABC News
Electric Cigarette Explodes in Fla. Man's Face - ABC News
Yeah, that was a few years later and "Tom" may or may not have been one of our posters. Lots of speculation of what type but the police reported finding several CR123 batts there, but no confirmation on the actual mod. The 'vent' talk started with the Chuch incident. Although likely before that as well, but Jeff, maker of 'Chuck' posted this after the 3/2010 incident:
... as I reported here:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...n-injured-battery-explodes-5.html#post1141662
post#48
So, I'm not saying that battery safety isn't an important issue, but whose responsibility is it? All of the online vendors that I use have pages dedicated to safety, with links to those pages anywhere you can buy something that has or can hold a battery. In the case of ego-type batteries in a generic blister pack sold at a gas station, is it the gas station attendant, the management, the distributor, the importer, the foreign distributor, or the manufacturer. Can you even identify any of those people?
Maybe it would be more prudent to make a documentary about all of the different types of batteries people use each day, and the possible dangers associated with them, along with proper care instructions. Of course, no one would watch it.
Here on ECF I see members sharing battery safety knowledge multiple times a day, I've even done it myself. The problem with that approach is, only those actively seeking knowledge come here.
Maybe it would be more prudent to make a documentary about all of the different types of batteries people use each day, and the possible dangers associated with them, along with proper care instructions. Of course, no one would watch it.
Here on ECF I see members sharing battery safety knowledge multiple times a day, I've even done it myself. The problem with that approach is, only those actively seeking knowledge come here.
I don't think "Tom" was a forum member, but a relative of his was. I remember him complaining that cash had deleted posts or threads about the incident. The same thing happened in Colorado (Hahn) just prior to that, with a Prodigy and RS batteries and resulted in hospitalization and a law suit. "Tom" was also a photographer iirc so that led to more speculation about the batteries he was using.
I'm not sure, but we need to stop denying it.
A simple google of "ecig fire" should put that debate to rest. It seems the US has more incidents in cars and the UK has more in homes. I don't know why that is, but the incidents in homes in on the rise in the US.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...P7PVjaFQf8ucgrd8EtUJqAw&bvm=bv.82001339,d.cGU
When my local media does a segment at a local B&M, the focus is on cloud chasers sporting mega shiny sub ohm mods, and how... wait for it... "we don't know if this is safe".
I think vendors could use these spots to their advantage by providing information on the technology, and why consumers should get informed and purchase from a reputable vendor, and stop pretending that there is no risk.
I know 'Hahn's' was a Prodigy. Still no proof what Holloway's was as the info was second hand. The vents started much earlier than those incidents though.
I've never seen anyone deny that ecig batteries can and do catch fire, only that they aren't the only ones that do, and that the number of times it has happened is relatively low. I haven't been around for nearly as long as you have, but in my time here I've seen at least one thread started any time something like this makes the news. Then everyone whips out their battery safety info, use the correct chargers, don't charge on the computer, clean your contacts regularly, don't charge unattended, consider using a charging bag/box, etc. There's even a sticky on the warnings/recalls forum about not charging near oxygen tanks.
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