Latest news with #SheilaSimmons
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Advice after exploding vape destroys three houses in Gainsborough
A warning about vapes has been issued after a fire left three houses exploding vape caused the fire in Gainsborough last Fire and Rescue said a preliminary investigation found the vape had exploded after it had overheated. Dan Moss, the service's area manager for prevention and protection, said: "If you're using vapes or any device that needs charging, make sure you're using the manufacturer's charger, unplug it once it is fully charged, don't leave it overnight or unattended, and stop using it if the battery shows signs of swelling, overheating or damage." Witnesses told BBC Radio Lincolnshire the vape was being charged on a bed and had burst into flames at the house in Grey Street. The fire service said the blaze spread through the roof space, causing significant damage to three houses and smoke damage to a fourth. Sheila Simmons, who lived in one of the affected houses, said the roof had "all collapsed in" and, "basically, all the families have lost everything".Mr Moss said: "This incident in Gainsborough really serves to highlight why we advise residents to use and charge electricals safely."Fortunately, nobody has been injured in this case, but three houses have been made uninhabitable and another partially damaged, all from a single, seemingly innocuous, vape."Andy Wright, principal trading standards officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "Vape-related house fires are often caused by cheap, counterfeit products such as chargers which can often lack important safety features."We cannot stress enough just how important it is to buy vapes and e-cigarettes which meet the necessary safety requirements from reputable retailers." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Gainsborough family 'lose everything' after fire destroys home
A woman whose home was destroyed in a fire said she and her family face an uncertain future as they have nowhere else to fire, which was believed to have been caused by an exploding vape, started at a property on Grey Street in Gainsborough on Friday afternoon before spreading to three other Simmons, who lives in one of the affected houses, said the uncertainty was "horrible"."We're in a Travelodge and I don't know what's going to happen," she added. "Our roof is completely gone, it's all collapsed in - basically all the families have lost everything," she said."We've lost everything - everything that we have recently bought it's just gone."The 45-year-old said she now feared the house would not be rebuilt and they would have to "start all over again"."That is the bit I'm not looking forward to because I love my home," she talking about the response from the local community, Mrs Simmons said everyone had rallied round to help."On the day [of the fire], all my daughter was stood in was a nightie, and I had a pair of shorts and a top."Since then, we've now got clothing and toiletries - the support has been amazing," she said. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said three of the homes had been left uninhabitable, but said nobody had been service said an investigation would examine why the vape general advice to residents, Helen Tooley, group manager at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: "If you are using vapes or any electronic equipment that needs charging, please use the proper chargers. Make sure it's in a safe place. Unplug it if you're not in the room." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
