Suffolk Fire and Rescue warn of combustion risk for stockpiling disposable vapes
Research reveals 82% of Brits are already buying disposable vapes in bulk ahead of the upcoming ban.
Last updated 1st Jun 2025
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is urging people not to stockpile disposable vapes, warning they pose a growing fire risk due to the lithium-ion batteries inside.
It comes as new national research reveals 82% of Brits are already stockpiling ahead of the UK Government’s upcoming ban on single-use vapes, which comes into effect in June.
The research shows:
- 37% say they’ll stockpile enough for three months.
- 28% plan to buy in bulk for six months or more.
- Others are switching to reusable pod kits (43%), quitting altogether, or even considering the black market
Public safety experts say this surge in hoarding, often without proper storage, could put lives and homes at risk.
Lee Wilkins, from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“From the fire and rescue service point of view, we would advise people not to stockpile vapes."
Counterfeit vapes
He warned many people are buying from unreliable sources:
“Quite a lot of people are actually buying vapes from non-reputable suppliers.
"You need to have that trust in the equipment that you're purchasing, that it comes from a reputable source, that you're storing it correctly. There is a risk of fire with them.”
He said issues tend to come from counterfeit vapes and chargers, which lack basic safety features:
“If the equipment is counterfeit… it won’t have things like current protection. It can overcharge, it can overheat, which obviously can then cause fire.”
Wilkins added that once a battery is damaged or short-circuits, it can lead to a dangerous chain reaction:
“Lithium-ion batteries… once they either short or become damaged, they can start going into what’s called a thermal runaway.
"So they almost become sort of self-propelling in the reaction, which just causes heat and ignition, and if it's around flammable combustible materials, you've got yourself an issue."
He said while lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, in phones, laptops, e-scooters and more, the problem is how people handle and store vapes:
“If you buy them from a reputable supplier and they're built to an appropriate standard, then you should be okay.
And also, as long as you adhere to certain protocols in how you look after the kit, how you use it, and when you use it, then you should be OK.”
His advice is clear: don’t stockpile, and only buy from trusted sources.
“Please store appropriately. Follow the instructions.
"There's loads of information on the Internet about safe use, safe recharging.”
For anyone unsure, Wilkins says help is available:
“Go on our website — Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.
"The National Fire Chiefs Council's got some really, really good information on there too.
"You can quite quickly find good advice… to keep yourself, your families, your neighbours and communities as safe as possible.”