Councils step up vape safety warnings and battery awareness after Glasgow blaze

Local authorities across are tightening safety messaging and reviewing risks linked to vape retail and battery disposal following the devastating fire in Glasgow earlier this month.

The blaze, which broke out in a vape retail unit on Union Street on 8 March before engulfing a B-listed building and forcing the temporary closure of Glasgow Central Station, has prompted a series of responses from councils aimed at preventing similar incidents.

In Scotland, Fife Council has contacted more than 500 businesses registered to sell vapes, issuing reminders around safe storage and fire risk management. The local authority said it emailed all 528 registered retailers in the region in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

Trading Standards Service Manager Dawn Adamson said the communication focused on the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries used in vape devices.

“On the back of what happened in Glasgow, we emailed those who we have as registered to sell vapes,” she said, adding that retailers were urged to ensure stock is stored safely, fire risk assessments are up to date, and staff are trained in safe handling procedures.

Adamson also highlighted the current regulatory framework in Scotland, where vape retailers must register with the Scottish Government but are not subject to a formal licensing scheme. Failure to register remains an offence.

Beyond retail settings, councils are also turning attention to wider battery disposal risks. In Northern Ireland, Mid Ulster District Council has agreed to introduce signage at recycling centres urging the public to remove batteries from electrical items before disposal, amid concerns about fire hazards.

The move follows reports of multiple fires at a recycling facility in Toome over the past year, with councillors warning that a lack of public awareness is contributing to dangerous practices.

Councillor Denise Johnston, who raised the issue, pointed to the Glasgow incident as an example of how severe such fires can become, noting that battery fires are particularly difficult to extinguish.

“We’re all aware of the fire in Glasgow in the vape shop. We don’t know the origin of that fire yet, but we certainly do know that a battery fire is a very difficult one to put out, and look at the extent of the damage that was caused in Glasgow,” Johnston said.

Council officials confirmed they are participating in a national campaign to raise awareness around lithium battery disposal, including discouraging residents from placing such items in household bins due to the risk of fires in bin lorries and waste facilities.

There are also calls for broader scrutiny of how battery-containing waste is transported, with concerns raised about the crushing of items during collection potentially triggering fires.

Meanwhile, in East Lothian, councillors have raised concerns about the proximity of residential properties to vape shops, particularly where flats are located above retail units.

Musselburgh councillor Shona McIntosh questioned whether additional safeguards are needed, highlighting the risks posed to residents in mixed-use buildings following the Glasgow blaze.

“Given the terrible scenes from Glasgow… I wondered does this strategy allow us to look again at the licensing of vape shops,” she said, also calling for greater coordination between housing and regulatory services.

Council officials confirmed they would work with emergency services and other agencies to review any lessons emerging from the incident, while chief executive Laurence Rockey said the authority remains in close contact with the Scottish government and fire services as the situation develops.

(Clare Buchanan, Francois Vincent and Marie Sharp of the Local Democracy Reporting Service contributed to the report)