Smoking, vapes spark fire danger in Michigan

Smoking-related fires made up a quarter of Michigan’s fatal fires this year, with some tied to smoking while using medical oxygen
Lithium-ion batteries in e-cigarettes and vapes can overheat, explode and spark fires if mishandled or improperly disposed of
State health officials are promoting smoke-free housing and offering fire safety resources to prevent deadly indoor fires

Smoking materials continue to be one of Michigan’s deadliest fire hazards.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging residents to create smoke-free spaces and take precautions as e-cigarettes and their lithium-ion batteries add new risks to the mix.

So far, smoking-related fires have accounted for 25% of fatal fires this year. About 11% of the fires were tied to smoking while on medical oxygen, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

In 2024, 48% of fatal fires were smoke-related, while 13% involved medical oxygen.

These fires most likely start when cigarettes, hot ashes and other smoking materials are left unattended, causing furniture to catch fire.

In response, state health officials are focusing on prevention efforts aimed at reducing smoking indoors and expanding smoke-free housing options.

“Creating smoke-free and vape-free environments is not only a public health priority, it’s critical for fire safety,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive, said in a statement. “By increasing access to smoke-free housing and supporting Michigan residents who want to quit smoking or vaping, we can save lives and reduce fire-related deaths, injuries and property damage.”

The MDHHS also offers resources and safety guidance to help residents and property managers create and maintain smoke-free housing, including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and educational classes.

The fiery side of vaping

Cigarettes aren’t solely to blame for smoking-related fires. Lithium-ion batteries found in e-cigarettes and vape pens can overheat, catch fire and explode if damaged or misused.

“The average person has no idea that these little tiny portable and lightweight items had a fiery side and that there are things they can do to protect themselves,” said Kelly Ransdell, director of public education for the National Fire Protection Association.

The danger often comes from how e-cigarettes and vapes are handled or charged, not just from the batteries themselves.

“One of the challenges that we found is that with e-cigarettes and vapes, most people carry them in their pockets and when you carry them in your pocket … it can generate a lot of heat when you use them,” Ransdell said.

When lithium-ion batteries overheat due to not being properly stored or overcharged, it increases the risk of them exploding and potentially causing a fire.

“People who are using e-cigarettes and vapes at night, they may actually put it on the charger and leave it and that is actually very dangerous to do. You actually need to supervise things that have these rechargeable batteries in them. Charge them to 100% and then take them off that charger,” Ransdell said.

The NFPA recommends that individuals who use e-cigarettes and vapes charge their products with the charger that came with it and on a hard surface, away from pillows and furniture that could catch fire, and never leave the item unattended.

Even after a device stops working, its lithium-ion battery can still pose a fire risk if not handled correctly. The batteries should never be thrown in household trash or recycling bins; instead, they should be taken to a designated recycling facility for safe disposal.

“It’s really important that users find a safe place to recycle so that we don’t have fires when a battery has quit charging … because it can hurt people and also be very expensive,” she said.

Smoking, vapes spark fire danger in Michigan

The fiery side of vaping

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