A woman’s vape exploded and set fire to her bed while her unwell mum slept in the next room.

Craig Sweeney’s 21-year-old daughter left a vape on charge on her bedside table while they left to pick up his younger kids from school.

But despite not leaving it for long the vape exploded, fell onto her bed and started a fire while her ill mum was in bed in another bedroom oblivious to the blaze.

Read more: Restaurant tipped in Michelin guide announces shock closure as it thanks loyal diners

Craig, 42, from Kibblesworth, Gateshead, said: “We had just popped out to grab the kids from school and the initial plan was to run to the shop quickly before returning home.

“But I changed my mind as the kids were clearly in no mood once they had finished school.

“When we got back, my oldest went straight upstairs and when she opened the door to her room yelled ‘Dad there’s a fire’.

The Northern Echo: The vape, which was on the bedside table, exploded and fell onto the bed starting the fire.The vape, which was on the bedside table, exploded and fell onto the bed starting the fire. (Image: TWFRS)

“I panicked. I got the kids and the dogs out the house, woke my wife and turned off the electrics.

“I dread to think what would have happened if we didn’t get back to the house when we did, my wife was upstairs in the next room asleep, the fire could have easily spread.

“Thank God my daughter had closed that door to keep the dogs out of her room, it kept the fire and smoke from spreading to the rest of the house.”

His wife had to spend the night in hospital and was later discharged.

Craig, his daughter, and her boyfriend were also all treated for smoke inhalation.

The Northern Echo: The bedroom was badly damaged in the blaze.The bedroom was badly damaged in the blaze. (Image: TWFRS)

Nicole Mordecai, from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said: “Vapes have lithium ion batteries inside them which can be extremely volatile making them prone to overheating and causing fires in the home.

“Even though the vape that cause this incident was bought from a reputable source, it wasn’t plugged in and left charging for long, and was on a hard surface, the nature of the battery can cause fire in the home.

Read next:

Get more from The Northern Echo now for just £6 for 6 months with a Premium Plus digital subscription. Click here

“Thankfully Craig’s daughter closed the door to her bedroom that afternoon, otherwise the situation could have been much worse.

“We would never expect people to tackle a fire in their home, it can be so dangerous and cause significant injuries, but we understand that in a moment of panic like Craig was you may just want to act.

“Please check you have working smoke alarms in your property and get in touch if you need new ones fitted, they are the first line of response we have to a fire in the home and they’ve saved countless lives so we want everyone to have them in their homes.

“Remember if you do have a fire in your home, close the doors if you can, this slows the fire and prevents it from spreading through your home, get out, stay out and call 999.”

Due to their batteries, you cannot dispose of vapes in your kitchen bin; they must be taken to your local tip.