Fire officers are warning residents of the dangers of e-cigarettes following a house fire in Rhyl.

Two crews from Rhyl were called to the fire at a property on Balmoral Grove, Rhyl at 19.55hrs last night, Thursday 5^th March.

The cause is thought to have been a faulty e-cigarette battery unit which was situated in the kitchen.

A 49 year old man evacuated from the building on discovering smoke before crews arrived. A smoke detector had activated to raise the alarm.

Firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to tackle the fire. The fire caused 100% damage to the kitchen and its contents, with a further 75% heat and smoke damage to the rest of the ground floor and 50% smoke damage to the upstairs of the property.

Gwyn Jones, Community Safety Manager, said: "This man was extremely fortunate and only required treatment from paramedics for minor injuries. Crews successfully managed to rescue the occupier's pet dog.  

"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 guidance - and turn off and unplug them before you go to bed.

"Never leave items on charge or unattended for long periods - e-cigarettes are known to overheat when charging which can lead to an increased risk of a fire"

Further guidance on e-cigarettes can be found on the North Wales Fire and Rescue service website www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk

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 fire safety checks, where a member of the Service will visit your home, give fire safety hints and tips, help you to formulate a fire escape plan and fit new alarms - all free of charge. This service is 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 .