Is There a Recent Spike in E-Cigarette Explosions?

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular over the last several years, however, an alarming increase in e-cigarette explosions has also been reported.

Denver 7 has compiled an extensive report of the recent e-cigarette explosions across the country.

In Colorado alone, there were at least 34 e-cigarette explosions last year. Of those, 27 involved injuries. They report that UCHealth Burn Center doctors have noted that they have seen a spike in these e-cigarette explosions.

Dr. Arek Wikto says, “We didn’t see this two years ago. We’ve seen a significant increase in these in the past year.”

The Medical Director at UCHealth Burn Center, Anne Wagner, spoke to Denver 7. “We’ve taken care of two patients that were in the process of smoking when it blew up. So they ended up with injuries to their face and eyes. It’s a significant problem.”

UCHealth Burn Center is the only burn center in the Rocky Mountain region that is verified by the American Burn Association.

Victims of e-cigarette explosions say that they have not been warned that there is a risk of possible e-cigarette explosions.

Denver 7 also tracked down a few victims of e-cigarette explosions. One such user, Craig Renz, said that he was walking into a retail store when the e-cigarette in his pocket exploded. He told Denver 7 that he thought he was going to die and that he thought he’d been shot.

Another victim explained, “My pants caught fire and the flames shot out and got my thumb, and then I went to pat it out and my whole pocket just erupted.” He says, “It just happened so fast. It was literally about a second or two and then ‘POW’ and a full explosion.”

The news source also uncovered the fact that in 2015 and 2016, not a single explosion from an e-cigarette was reported to the Colorado Fire Marshall.

What Causes E-Cigarette Explosions?

When Denver 7 went to investigate at Denver vape shops, they discovered that managers generally blamed user error and faulty batteries for the e-cigarette explosions. Managers told Denver 7 that e-cigarette users are to blame for 90% of problems that are associated with e-cigarettes.

Advocates of e-cigarettes claim that the e-cigarette explosions might be caused by users putting a battery in their pocket with keys or spare change. Victims say different things. Both victims that Denver 7 interviewed claim that there was nothing else in their pockets when during the e-cigarette explosions.

E-cigarettes contain powerful lithium-ion batteries that heat an aerosol cartridge that releases the vapor for the e-cigarette. The batteries are very sensitive to temperature changes and must be kept between 50 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Critics also point to cheaply made batteries that do not contain management systems that create dangerous conditions if they are over or under charged.

If you believe you have been injured by e-cigarette explosions, you may be eligible for legal compensation.