Vape Pen Explosion In Silicon Valley Leaves California Man With Serious Burns

A man in San Jose, California–an area known to some as Silicon Valley–suffered serious burns when his vape pen allegedly exploded in his pocket.

According to the man, Michael Moreno, he was driving with his three children in his van when his vape pen suddenly exploded. He told KRON 4 that he “heard a loud pop” that sounded like it could have been a firework. After which point he saw “a flame shoot up” from his pants.

“I heard a loud pop, sounded almost like a firework, and then immediately, I seen a flame just shoot up from my pants.”

By Moreno’s account, it must have been the vape because it was the only thing he had in his pocket at the time of the incident.

While incidents of exploding vape pens are clearly on the rise, Moreno was surprised when it allegedly happened to him, especially given that the one he bought–which cost $140 (USD)–was, by his account, “probably safer” than the ones that cost less.

“You don’t think it’s going to happen to you, especially the one I bought (…) I paid a good amount of money for, so you think it’s probably safer.”

After the pen allegedly exploded in his pocket, Moreno says he “put the car on park, opened the door, and hopped out” before proceeding to take his clothes off. By his account, his primary concern was getting his children to safety. After which point, he then proceeded to attend to his own injuries.

As he began to assess his injuries, he noticed that the skin on his hand “was just gone” — a realization that occurred only after he attempted to take his belt off.

Moreno, who claimed to have been vaping for about a year prior to the alleged explosion, reportedly sustained burns to both his hand and leg as a result of the incident.

He’s since sworn off vaping as KRON 4 reports that he said he’ll never use one again and that he’s now suggesting others do the same.