Vape Explosion Ignites Car Fire, Leaving Woman with Lifelong Scars: Safety Alert
Mother Left Scarred by Exploding Vape Warns of Hidden Dangers
Suzanne Manus, a 32-year-old Alabama mother, is urging vape users to quit after her rechargeable e-cigarette exploded in her lap, leaving her with life-altering burns and setting her car ablaze. The incident occurred in November 2023 while she was driving home from shopping. Her husband, Bobby, heard the explosion over the phone before the line cut out.
[Image: Suzanne Manus with scarred legs; caption: Suzanne Manus suffered severe burns after her vape exploded in her car.]
Suzanne quickly pulled over, ripped off her burning trousers, and watched her Nissan Rogue engulfed in flames. She was rushed to Flowers Hospital, then airlifted to UAB Hospital’s trauma center. Doctors diagnosed extensive burns on her inner thighs, genitals, and buttocks, requiring two surgeries, including a skin graft.
“I thought I was going to die,” Suzanne recalled. “My legs were on fire, and I swerved uncontrollably.” After a month-long hospital stay, she now applies ointment daily to manage scarring. “The mental trauma is worse than the physical pain,” she admitted.
[Image: Suzanne’s burns during treatment; caption: Surgeons performed skin grafts to repair her damaged tissue.]
Before the accident, Suzanne was an “avid” vaper but insists the risks outweigh any perceived benefits. “I took every precaution, but it still exploded. This could’ve killed me,” she said.
Another Victim’s Close Call
Matthew Burton, 37, from Warwick, England, faced a similar nightmare in June 2023. While strapping his son into their car, a vape in his pocket erupted, causing second-degree burns. “It felt like my leg was melting,” he said. Hospital staff initially dismissed his injuries as “sunburn,” but a later referral to a burns specialist revealed severity.
[Image: Matthew Burton’s leg burns; caption: Matthew Burton suffered second-degree burns from a pocket explosion.]
Rising Concerns Over Vape Safety
The incidents highlight growing fears about vaping devices, especially as NHS data reveals 30% of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have tried vaping. Suzanne and Matthew now campaign for awareness.
[Image: NHS chart on youth vaping; caption: 30% of children in Yorkshire and the Humber reported vaping in 2021.]
“Stop vaping—it’s not worth your life,” Suzanne urged. Matthew added, “I’ll never touch one again. Learn from our pain.” Both stress that even “safe” habits can lead to disaster, urging users to reconsider their choices.
[Image: Burned car wreckage; caption: Suzanne’s car was destroyed in the fiery explosion.]
