Cambridgeshire fire service incurs costs from vape-related fires

Vape-related fires have cost the Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service over £850 in call-out fees between 2023 and 2025. Data obtained via Freedom of Information requests shows three specific incidents in the county, with the majority of the expense occurring in 2025.

Beyond Cambridgeshire, other UK fire services have reported significant costs due to improper vape disposal. Humberside responded to 55 incidents at an estimated cost of £29,210 over five years, while Lincolnshire reported 13 incidents costing £27,648.24. Combined, these three services responded to 71 incidents using 183 fire engines or vehicles.

Experts note that these figures only represent the immediate cost of emergency responses. They do not account for secondary damages such as repairs to waste vehicles, property damage to homes or businesses, or disruptions to refuse services.