Vapes have been identified as a major factor in the likely rise in household waste collection fires by a Devon council.
Figures from East Devon District Council show it has already recorded three such fires this calendar year – almost level with the four recorded for the whole of 2025.
Last year, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service was called to Millwey Rise Industrial Estate after reports of a small waste fire from a bin lorry driver.
Biffa, the firm that owned the vehicle, said at the time the cause of the blaze was unknown but that it had seen a “growing number” of fires involving lithium-ion batteries.
Vape fires have also occurred in refuse vehicles in Exeter and Plymouth, and the county’s fire service said last year it was going to conduct a deep-dive into electric vehicle (EV) fires, which also use lithium-ion.
A spokesperson for East Devon District Council said it had suffered two fires in its depots so far in 2026, and one in a vehicle.
“All were dealt with quickly so were small scale,” the spokesperson said.
“However, without the depot staff and crew’s quick reactions these could have been worse.
“The fires do cause disruption [though] most so far have been extinguished in the vehicle but then crews need to travel back to the depot and offload.
“Numbers are rising, primarily due to vapes.”
The spokesperson said it had experienced four such fires in 2025, which suggests that with three occurring just four months into this year, the total for 2026 is likely to be higher.
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