HERRIN (WSIL) -- You may have heard the dangers of vaping, but a few local residents saw a new danger from the smoking alternative.
Around 4 a.m. Friday, the Herrin Fire Department responded to a 911 call about a possible structure fire. Residents said they heard an explosion and their house was filling with smoke.
Crews found a small fire that they say was caused by a vape pen battery exploding.
Herrin Fire Chief Shawn Priddy wants people to be mindful of where they leave their devices.
"It was actually in the top of the closet and hadn't been messed with in quite some time, was just sitting there, so something happened and caused that battery to fail and caused that small fire," explained Priddy.
The fire department cites the on vapes and e-cigarettes, reminding users not to charge the device overnight, replace the batteries if they get damaged or wet, and keep loose batteries in a case to prevent contact with metal objects.
