Exploding vape battery caused fire with 40 people evacuated from busy hospital

03 May 2024 , 16:51

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A vape battery is believed to have led to a fire at a London hospital (file image) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

An exploding vape battery caused a fire that led to 40 people being evacuated from a busy hospital.

Part of an outpatient day ward at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, North London, was damaged when the blaze broke out in a backpack on Tuesday (April 30). The London Fire Brigade was called to the hospital at 12.24pm and hospital staff managed to evacuate around 40 people before crews arrived.

A fire brigade spokesman said the blaze was safely put out by a member of hospital staff using an extinguisher before firefighters arrived. Two men and four women were assessed for smoke inhalation. The fire brigade said the incident was over for crews by 1.26pm. The cause is believed to have been accidental, and probably caused by the failure of a lithium battery in a rechargeable vape.

A spokesperson for the Royal Free London said: “We would like to thank the nursing team for their phenomenally quick response, which ensured no-one was hurt. Staff made sure patients were safely evacuated and patient care has continued to be delivered in a safe and timely way. Thank you to the London Fire Brigade for attending.”

Patients are not allowed to smoke or vape in the hospital. Firefighters from Walthamstow, Stoke Newington, Holloway and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The full statement from London Fire Brigade read: "Firefighters responded to a fire at a hospital on Pond Street in Hampstead. Part of a day ward was damaged by a fire involving a backpack.

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Around 40 people were evacuated by hospital staff before the Brigade arrived. Two men and four women assessed on scene for smoke inhalation by hospital staff. The Brigade was first called about the fire at 1224, and the incident was over for crews by 1326. Firefighters from Walthamstow, Stoke Newington, Holloway and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The fire is believed to have been accidental, likely caused by the failure of a lithium battery in a rechargeable vape."

Tim Hanlon