Fire officers are warning residents, especially students, of the dangers of e-cigarettes following a house fire in Bangor.

Two crews from Bangor and one from Menai Bridge were called to a fire at a property on Ffriddoedd Road, Bangor at 18.02hrs yesterday (Wednesday 30^th September).

The cause of the incident is thought to have been due to the overheating of an e-cigarette which had been left on charge, igniting the bed.

The property is home to five students, two of which were home at the time of the fire and had evacuated safely. A smoke detector had activated.

Upon arrival, firefighters found that one of the ground floor bedrooms was heavily smoke logged, with black smoke issuing from an open window at the rear of the property. Crews used two sets of breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet to tackle the fire.

Terry Williams from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “The students were lucky as the damage could have been much worse and this could easily have been a more serious fire.

“The incident highlights how quickly a fire can spread - and the importance of using electrical items correctly and operating them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

“The experience of fire and rescue services across the UK is that e-cigarettes can carry an increased risk of fire and we would urge that extra care is needed when using them.

“All e-cigarettes use a rechargeable battery to power the vaporiser and these batteries require recharging on a regular basis.

“We would advise you only ever purchase these products from a reputable source and only use the battery and charger provided with the e-cigarette when charging. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and turn off and unplug them before you go to bed. Never mix and match chargers – always use the charger supplied.

“Never leave items on charge or unattended for long periods – e-cigarettes are known to overheat when charging.

“We would also urge all students, whether in halls of residence or private rented accommodation, to be aware of fire safety – there is plenty of information on our website and Facebook page.

“Smoke alarms save lives and give you extra time to escape in the event of a fire in the home. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service offers free home safety checks, available to all residents in North Wales.”

To register for a free home fire safety check, please call the 24 hour free hotline on 0800 169 1234 or visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk .